Vicky Graff Photo
Chip Trayanum knows all about Kentucky’s recent success in the backfield under Mark Stoops and seeks to keep the trend going in his first season with the Wildcats.
Trayanum, a transfer from Ohio State, will be counted on to carry on the tradition, a bar set high by Benny Snell, Chris Rodriguez and Ray Davis and is taking an even keel approach this season.
“My goals for this year are pretty high,” he said. “I just feel like I’ve got to be me and do nothing more, nothing less.”
While with the Buckeyes last season, Trayanum rushed for 373 yards and scored three touchdowns. He scored the game-winning touchdown in a win over Notre Dame and began his career as a linebacker at Arizona State before making the transition to running back. He has rushed for 1,156 yards and 13 touchdowns on 227 carries in collegiate career.
Trayanum, who will be playing for his third team, said making the move to Kentucky provided the “right fit.”
“We all had the perfect plan and a vision for this upcoming season,” he said. “I’m just trying to come in and work every day and just improve in my play and prove in how I practice and everything.”
Trayanum admitted that he’s not concerned whether or not he’s first on the depth chart or if coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan choose a committee approach.
“I’m just a ballplayer,” he said. “It’s not about being more comfortable or uncomfortable. I’m just willing to do whatever it takes to win. And whatever the coaches ask and for me, it is just always about trying to find a way where I can be productive in the game.”
The team’s running backs have impressed the Ohio State transfer during preseason workouts.
“The running back room is full of talent from top to bottom,” he said. “We’re just coming in every day working, practicing and making each other better.”
Trayanum also has been impressed with Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff, who is expected to be the team’s starting quarterback.
“Me and Brock have a lot of chemistry,” he said. “I know what he’s thinking and he knows what I’m thinking. As long as we can be on the same page at all times, I think we’ll be productive.”
Stoops is confident the backfield, anchored by Trayanum will continue the recent trend set by his previous cast of running backs.
“The running back room to some extent is unproven, but we will see,” Stoops said. “We will see what we will do. I believe in those guys. I believe there is a really good mixture of players in there where we have the really strong bruisers that we have had before and some guys that can be electric in the open fields. I think that will work its way out.”
2 Responses
I think he is exactly the right running back for this team. You have to be able to run through arm tackles when your running through 1-3 2-4 gaps. I think he brings that to the table. He’s built like a brick house. Bigger than our previous backs muscular wise. I really like this kid you can look this his career in college and he has really done whatever his teams have wanted him to do. Switching from defense to offense twice in his college career. He played defense at Ohio State too then they switched him back to running back. So he goes whatever is told. His ego isnt like some kids. Most kids transfer if you ask them to play another position. The wade twins is a perfect example. The quarterback position he will never start at. I think he’s 3rd or 4th team on Colorado. If he would have switched to tight end or a big receiver he could have seen the field early.
21 days till tip off, ready for some football action. Since my reds are doing another disappointed season the talent is there just need better pitching which has been problematic the last few years