Chris Rodriguez could be the focus of South Carolina's defense Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Will Kentucky have Will Levis at quarterback Saturday night when it hosts South Carolina?
Maybe. Maybe not. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops was very vague Thursday despite speculation that Levis has an ankle injury that will keep him out of the game.
“My policy is always if somebody is out, I’ll tell you,” Stoops said after Thursday’s practice. “I don’t have anybody out. If I had somebody out, I’d tell you.”
Notice Stoops didn’t say Levis was playing. He just said he had not been ruled out for Saturday night’s game yet.
Redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron of Somerset seems to be in line to start if Levis does not play with sophomore Deuce Hogan, an Iowa transfer, backing him up. Both have very limited reps this year and neither one has thrown a pass this season.
“Looking at the quarterbacks on the roster, we got a feel for both of them,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said Louisville ESPN Radio. “For us, it starts with stopping the run no matter who starts at quarterback for Kentucky. We got to do a great job stopping the run first and foremost.”
Even if Levis plays, Beamer has to know he’s going to get a big dose of Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez. If Levis is out, he could get a double dose or more.
“We’re prepared if he (Levis) does (play), we’re prepared if he doesn’t,” Beamer said after Thursday’s practice. “They’ve got a great team around him, with some dynamic receivers, a great running back, a big, physical offensive line, so they pose a lot of challenges, regardless of what’s at quarterback.”
“But obviously he’s a first-round draft pick for a reason.”
