Vicky Graff Photo
If there is one thing that Mark Stoops seems to do really well it is relate to his players.
Sure, he’s a terrific defensive coach and always has been a great evaluator of talent on his coaching staff.
He showed that again Saturday after Kentucky’s Fan Day when he talked about running back Ramon Jefferson, who is trying to come back from a knee injury that kept him out all of last season. The coach said he talked to Jefferson on the field about his journey.
“I told him to just keep on going. And I could see the confidence in him,” Stoops said. “I’ve been through knee injuries before. I understand when he’s coming back from it?
“You just see him getting more comfortable each and every day. With that, he gets more confidence. You start seeing him getting back to being fluid and running.”
Jefferson transferred to UK from Sam Houston State after running for almost 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in two seasons. He had played at Maine under current UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen before transferring to Garden City Community College and then Sam Houston State. He was hurt in UK’s opening game last season but was granted a SEVENTH season by the NCAA.
“I can tell that he’s feeling better,” Stoops said. “We’ve got to just be smart and cautious, get him better and get him through it. We do have a month and it’s a long season so I’d like to see him back at full strength.”
