Mark Stoops sends clear message to Jamarion Wilcox when addressing lack of carries

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye has emerged as Kentucky‘s top running back amid the absence of Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum.

However, explosive redshirt freshman Jamarion Wilcox has emerged as a favorite to the fanbase and among his peers in the locker room. Many among Big Blue Nation have called for him to receive more carries as the season has progressed, something head coach Mark Stoops addressed on Monday ahead of Week 8’s matchup against Florida.

“Here’s a simple thing, tie your shoes, tie your shoes,” Stoops said. “He doesn’t tie his shoes, so he runs it, but his shoe falls off, so he’s got to come out. That would help.”

After a carry during Saturday’s loss to Vanderbilt, Wilcox’s shoe came loose and had to leave the game to put it back on. Is Stoops questioning his maturity? It certainly seems so, especially after it came out that Wilcox was late to a team meeting earlier in the year that held back his carries for a few weeks.

“I don’t want to crucify the young man, and act like he’s not doing things right, you know, he is,” Stoops said after the win against Ohio last month. “He’s working hard, it’s just harder than maturation process. We’re here to bring young men along and get them to compete at the high level, and have the consistency that we are looking for. He’s proving that with time and we just want to continue to push him that way.”

Despite the correctable mistakes, he’s been a strong piece of Kentucky’s offense as the team’s second running back. On 29 carries, he’s totaled 191 rushing yards and is still looking for the first touchdown of his collegiate careeer.

Moving forward, it’s unclear how much Wilcox will be used in Kentucky’s offense. There’s no telling when Trayanum will return, not to mention Kentucky also utilizes a two-quarterback system with Gavin Wimsatt. The Rutgers transfer is essentially another running back for the Wildcats, and is third on the team in rushing after seven weeks.

Kentucky’s road trip to the Swamp is set for 7:45 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network as the Wildcats look to take their fourth win over the Gators in as many years.