Exploring Kentucky Storylines at SEC Media Days 2022

The 2022 SEC football season starts and ends in Atlanta. SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame kicks off another exhilarating campaign that culminates Dec. 3 just down the street at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Kentucky Sports Radio will be well-represented at the annual start of talking season. Freddie Maggard will join me to create a series of posts diving into Kentucky’s opponents. We’ll also be curating daily videos and podcasts with our partners from Morgan & Morgan. Subscribe to KSR’s YouTube channel and the Depth Chart Podcast to make sure you stay up to date.

Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats will take center stage Wednesday, taking turns in-between Florida, Georgia and Arkansas. The last time the event was held in Atlanta, Benny Snell made his case as the best running back in the SEC, while Josh Allen started his campaign for Defensive Player of the Year. This year could produce even more fireworks with high expectations across the Big Blue Nation. There are a few important questions the Cats will answer.

What’s the deal with Chris Rodriguez?

Chris Rodriguez, he’s kind of a big deal. Considered by some a preseason All-American, he is unquestionably the top producing running back in the Southeastern Conference with 2,739 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns to his name. Kentucky’s all-time rushing record is within reach and a preseason First Team All-SEC selection is all but certain, but when will we see him in action?

The Kentucky running back was arrested for a DUI in May and pleaded guilty earlier this month. There’s also smoke surrounding some other circumstance that has led many to be skeptical about his future.

SEC Media Days will be the first time Mark Stoops has been directly asked about his star running back’s status. Will Kentucky’s head coach provide a definitive answer? I still don’t believe the BBN will receive a satisfying resolution. That will probably not happen until later in the summer. In the meantime, Rodriguez will continue to prepare for the upcoming season as though he’s playing in every game for the Wildcats this fall.

Is Will Levis worth the hype?

As Will Levis stonks have soared all offseason, SEC opponents have questioned and criticized the hype from NFL pundits. That will not stop in Atlanta.

There’s a disconnect between Levis the SEC quarterback and Levis the NFL Draft prospect. Phil Steele grades him as the No. 4 quarterback prospect, but not a top four quarterback in the SEC. That is not an anomaly. Just Google “SEC quarterback rankings” and you will not find him anywhere near the top three.

Levis does not have the stat-padding benefit of playing for Mike Leach or Josh Heupel. However, to prove the NFL pundits correct, he will need to play like one of the top three quarterbacks in the SEC this fall, providing an optimal forecast for the BBN. We’ll learn how many Levis believers there are across the SEC next week.

Has Kentucky plateaued under Stoops?

Prior to Mark Stoops’ arrival, Kentucky had two 10-win seasons in its entire history. He now has two in the last four years. The Wildcats have reached new heights under his tutelage, but it will not silence the skeptics. Heck, even some of his biggest fans question what the Wildcats can accomplish in 2022.

Kentucky is now respected by its peers at SEC Media Days. Instead of SEC doormat, the Wildcats are a hard-nosed, tough out in the East, but many still do not consider them an actual No. 1 contender to Georgia. Next week it’s Mark Stoops’ job to convince the rest of the world that Kentucky can, and will, take the next step to knock off the top Dogs and punch a return ticket to Atlanta for UK’s first ever SEC Championship Game appearance.