Mark Stoops shares personal experience with knee injury as Ramon Jefferson recovers

Ramon Jefferson’s first season at Kentucky was short-lived after the Sam Houston State transfer tore his ACL in their opener. That’s why Mark Stoops is as happy as he is to have him back and almost ready to go for his fifth season as a college running back.

Stoops spoke on how he is relating to Jefferson in a media availability at the Wildcat’s open practice during the program’s Fan Day this weekend. After suffering knee injuries of his own, he knows what it’s like to go back through the process of reacclimating himself and regaining his footing on the field.

“I actually was talking to Ramon today briefly just briefly on the field,” said Stoops. “I told him to just keep on going. And I could see the confidence in him.”

“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,” Stoops continued. “With that, he gets more confidence. You start seeing him getting back to being fluid and running.”

Jefferson only got to tote the rock twice for Kentucky last fall in their opener against Miami (OH) before he was lost for the year. It was a bummer in the bluegrass as he was a prospect that the program was high on after he rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in the two seasons prior with the Bearkats.

Most of his rehab is behind him, though, as he prepares to return to Kroger Field for another chance at UK. Even so, Stoops wants to remain careful with him so as to not damage him again before the season ever starts.

“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.”

Stoops says Kentucky’s health is in good shape 

Programs across the country are putting the last touches on their preparation for the upcoming season at fall camps. And that is exactly what Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops and his team are up to in early August. 

At these fall camps, the level of competition ratchets up as the start of the football year is just around the corner. And that can cause some unfortunate injuries. The good news for Kentucky, according to Stoops, is the team’s overall health is in good shape. 

“Yeah, we’re in pretty good shape. You’ll see a guy or two out there today that just got a little nagging injury yesterday they’re going to miss out there in practice today,” said Stoops. “(It) won’t take you long to figure it out. But he shouldn’t be out but 2-3 days, hopefully; little soft tissue injury. 

“One thing about our strength and conditioning team? They’re amazing and I wouldn’t change them for anybody. But we push it pretty hard through the summer. I can’t blame this one on them, but we had a couple of soft tissue injuries late in the summer. Our guys work exceptionally hard at speed development and pushing it to that limit. Not training or overtraining them, but pushing their mobility and their speed development.”