Without star RB Chris Rodriguez, Will Levis must shoulder the load for Kentucky to beat Florida

Kentucky’s quest to get to Atlanta just became more difficult with the recent report from KSR’s Matt Jones that star tailback Chris Rodriguez is staring at a “three or four game” suspension to open the 2022 season. 

The senior was arrested in May for DUI, and pled guilty to the charge in July. 

Throughout the offseason, ‘Cats head coach Mark Stoops has been coy about any punishment for Rodriguez, noting that the school was simply monitoring the situation. While nothing is set in stone yet, it looks very likely that Chris Rodriguez will miss Kentucky’s massive Week 2 matchup in Gainesville against the Florida Gators. 

That’s a biggie. 

Since the spring, the Wildcats have talked about leveling up in the SEC East, going from 10 wins a year ago to winning the division for the first time in school history. 

Rodriguez was a central component — ranked among the Top 50 players in all of college football by ESPN — in making that goal come to fruition. 

He is the best returning rusher in the SEC, averaging over 6.1 yards per carry and churning out nearly 1,400 yards in 2021. He’s just over 1,100 yards short of becoming the all-time leading rusher at Kentucky. 

Rodriguez has played in just one-career game against the Gators, rushing for 100 yards on 19 carries in UK’s 20-13 win last season. He scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 9-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to give the Wildcats their first win in Lexington over the Gators since 1986.

How different will Kentucky’s offense look to start the season now though?

With Rodriguez unavailable, Kentucky will open the year with a new offensive coordinator (out Liam Coen, in Rich Scangarello), pair of starting linemen including at left tackle. and without more than 70% of their total offensive production from all of last season. 

That’s no more Wan’Dale Robinson. No Josh Ali. And now, no Chris Rodriguez. The three playmakers combined for more than 3,500 rushing and receiving yards last season. Kavosiey Smoke and Sam Houston State transfer Ramon Jefferson are capable ‘backs, but neither are Chris Rodriguez.
Obviously, the Wildcats don’t need their senior tailback when they play Miami (OH) or Youngstown State, but in Week 2 at night in The Swamp? Yea, they could use him.

Kentucky was already looking to buck history to start SEC play 1-0. The Wildcats have one — ONE — victory at Florida since 1979. They haven’t beaten the Gators in consecutive seasons in 45 years. So with no Rodriguez, it’s a good thing Will Levis has massive shoulders, because Kentucky’s second-year starting quarterback will have to carry the team if they’re going to snap a long streak. 

Is he up to it?

Will Levis has a major opportunity to make an early statement at UF

Few players in America have generated more offseason hype than the former Penn State transfer. The 6-3, 235-pound quarterback is viewed as a potential Josh Allen 2.0 — surging up NFL Draft mock boards thanks to his prototype combination of size, athleticism and super-quick release. Levis is also charismatic, a natural leader and tough as hell — as showcased by his insistence on routinely challenging defenders head-on. 

Suddenly an-already important Week 2 game stands a potential statement opportunity for Will Levis. Can he make enough plays — through the air or on the ground — to grind Kentucky to a victory over a rebuilding Florida team?

If the ‘Cats want their Nov. 5 showdown with Georgia to matter in the divisional standings, he’ll need to. 

In his first year as Kentucky’s starter in 2021, Levis was fine, teasing his potential while also frustrating coaches with spurts of recklessness. He completed 66% of his passes, scoring 33 touchdowns with 13 interceptions and multiple fumbles. 

He was awesome against Louisville and LSU, but woefully inconsistent against Mississippi State and South Carolina. Turnovers were an issue, notably against conference opponents. In SEC play, Levis averaged only 6.5 yards per attempt — 12th among league quarterbacks.

Will Levis beat Florida in 2021, but the quarterback was just 7 of 17 for 87 yards. He had a bad interception and his lone touchdown — a 41-yard screen — was all Wan’Dale Robinson. 

WAN’DALE ROBINSON PUT THE GATORS IN A MAZE ON THIS SCREEN PASS 🤧🔥

TOUCHDOWN KENTUCKY #CFBpic.twitter.com/jpp396ETHg

— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 2, 2021

Levis has worked hard to improve his footwork and decision-making this offseason. During training camp, he’s slowly established chemistry with a new set of receivers, including several promising freshmen and Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson. And he’ll at least have a tune-up opener to work with his new playmakers and see how a remade offensive line settles in. 

But an offense already experiencing a transition needs their quarterback to truly be one of the best in the conference without their star tailback. Kentucky can absolutely still beat Florida without Chris Rodriguez because Will Levis is the X-factor.

If the 23-year-old quarterback is primed for a Kenny Pickett-esque senior year leap, then that could be the difference that tips the scales back in the Wildcats’ favor.