Jason Patterson (Vicky Graff Photo)
New Kentucky offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan was immediately impressed with true freshman running back Jason Patterson of Florida during Kentucky’s 2024 spring practice.
Patterson moved into the No. 2 running back spot behind Demie Sumo-Karngbaye the first two games before suffering an injury. After that he played in just two games — he ran for 38 yards on six carries against South Carolina and caught a 15-yard pass against Auburn — after he was healthy to preserve a redshirt season.
Another true freshman, Jamarion Wilcox, showed flashes of brilliance after he got a chance to get on the field following Patterson. Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell was brought in not only to help in short yardage situations but also potentially to be the starter.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops indicated it likely could be running back by committee but Patterson has once again impressed Hamdan and Stoops during spring practice.
“I’ve seen him take some steps even in the last two, three practices. It’s good to see him back out here, see him healthy, getting the reps,” Stoops said. “I like seeing him out there because he’s a guy that can be an every down back, doing some good things.”
Kentucky running backs coach Jay Boulware told The Cats’ Pause that Patterson was “coming into his own and learning how to lead” other running backs. He also confirmed that Patterson was “leading the pack” at this point of spring practice.
Hamdan likes the way Patterson, who averaged 5.6 yards per run on 20 attempts in 2024, has been able to stack reps together.
“He’s a guy that doesn’t say much, takes it one day at a time and it’s been that constant state of improvement for him,” the UK offensive coordinator said.
Patterson knows he needs to develop into more of a receiver not only to help UK but also to enhance his future NFL
“I feel like in the NFL, you need the ability to catch out of the backfield. If that’s my goal to get to the next level, then I’m going to have to showcase that on the field. That is something I’m looking forward to doing,” the redshirt freshman said.
3 Responses
Patterson is a very good running back but I don’t see how he starts over Wilcox or Dowdell. Wilcox probably had about 150-200 rushing yards maybe more brought back because of penalties. He had a couple of very long runs brought back because of penalty 50+ yarders. The messed up thing is that it didn’t affect his run at all. It was on the opposite side of the field. He also had a another big run called off vs Tennessee because of a personal foul against Barion Brown. He could have easily eclipsed 1,000 yards if he would have gotten more touches against weaker competition. The 2 terrible teams we played he combined for 9 rushes in both games. If he would have received even just 10-15 more carries he would have broken free for a couple of more touchdowns as well. If Wilcox doesn’t double his production he will be in the transfer market after this year and wherever he ends up he will easily be a 1,000 yard rusher just another reason to scratch your head and think wtf does Stoops think in his head. I don’t know how Patterson will play over Dowdell and Wilcox but Bush Hamdan must see something great in him if he continues to get first team reps. He’s a redshirt freshman this year so a big year from him might also spring him into the transfer portal with 3 years left and get him a big time payday.
Patterson was a top three rusher in all of Florida. Don’t know why the big three down here didn’t push to get him ?? In agreement with all of the above – it seems the better he does the more the coaches ignore him. Maybe it’s the “ shoe thing “ manifesting itself in other ways 🤷♂️.
Ignore Wilcox above