Chris Rodriguez Jr. opts out of bowl, ends Kentucky career

Kentucky’s two biggest offensive stars will sit out the Music City Bowl in Nashville, ending their careers as Wildcats. First it was Will Levis, and now, Chris Rodriguez Jr. has announced his time in Lexington is officially over.

Like Levis, Rodriguez will join the team in Nashville for the bowl game, but will not suit up. From there, the senior running back is set to take his talents to the NFL.

“Big Blue Nation, thank you for everything! I can’t tell you how much your support this past year has meant to me,” Rodriguez wrote. ”Although I’m going to sit out the bowl game to focus on my health and prepare for my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL, I’ll be in the Music City to support my brothers and I hope to see you there! Kentucky always!”

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Rodriguez ends his time at Kentucky with 3,644 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns to go with 116 receiving yards and three scores through the air. Suspended four games to open the year, the 5-foot-11, 224-pound back out of Mcdonough, GA finished the 2022 season with 904 yards and six touchdowns on 175 attempts, good for 5.2 yards per carry.

The star running back closes out his career ranked third on Kentucky’s all-time list behind Benny Snell (3,873) and Sonny Collins (3,835), 230 yards short of the record. His 32 career rushing touchdowns rank second behind Snell (48). He did, however, break Snell’s record of 19 100-yard rushing games with 20 over the course of his career.

One of the all-time greats calls it a college career in Lexington.