Film Room: Jason Patterson

Sneads (Fla.) High senior Jason Patterson was one of Kentucky’s top offensive recruiting targets back in the summer. The Wildcats hosted the 2022 rushing yards king in Florida high school football for an official visit in June and felt good about where that recruitment stoop. Unfortunately, Cincinnati was able to pull off a massive recruiting win in July.

Cinci is home!!! 🏠@DeRailSims @CoachSattUC @UCGriff @samgranvilletv @blthomas1999 @Andrew_Ivins @MohrRecruiting @On3sports pic.twitter.com/yrC7pf2Jw5

— Jason Patterson (@JPatterson_5) August 1, 2023

Despite the commitment, Kentucky remained steady in this recruitment as there was a significant need for two tailbacks in the 2024 cycle. Running backs coach Jay Boulware worked consistently to get Patterson flipped. With Cincinnati at 3-7 in year one under Scott Satterfield, that spatula finally was used.

The high three-star tailback flipped to Kentucky on Tuesday to give the Wildcats 22 high school commitments. Patterson joins Davie (Fla.) Western tailback Tovani Mizell in the class. Mizell is bringing burst and speed to the offense. What will the latest addition bring to Lexington?

Let’s step into the KSR Film and take a closer look at Jason Patterson. The Sunshine State product is a quick-footed explosive runner who flashes breakaway speed on tape.

Add another one to Kentucky's Top 25 football recruiting class.

RB Jason Patterson flips from Scott Satterfield's Cincinnati Bearcats to the #BBN.

“What stood out was number one, Coach Stoops. He always kept it real with me and did everything in his power to get me, and it’s… pic.twitter.com/65XdUBBGqb

— KSR (@KSRonX) November 14, 2023

Feel and vision

Jason Patterson (6-0, 205) does not look as big as his listed size on tape. However, this is a prospect who led the Florida high school football in rushing yards (2,721) as a junior. That does not happen by accident. The newest Kentucky commit doesn’t play the greatest competition in Florida due to Sneads (Fla.) High’s classification, but he shows some good intangibles on tape.

Patterson’s feel and vision as a tailback help create chunk runs.

Patterson allows his blocks to set up on a cutback run and quickly gets out the backdoor for a touchdown run. Using a jump cut, Patterson sneaks through the line and creates an explosive play touchdown on a long run. The tailback also shows good contact balance on another cutback where he again allows his blocks to set up before hitting the open lane.

Kentucky has shown some variety in the run game under offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Jason Patterson appears to be a good potential fit for a zone scheme thanks to his feel and patience flashed on tape. The tailback shows a good understanding of play concepts and has the juice to hit open lanes and create explosive plays.

Jason Patterson has breakaway speed

Since running backs coach Jay Boulware joined the Kentucky staff, the program has landed two other high school tailbacks. Both Jamarion Wilcox and Tovani Mizell have flashed some home run speed on tape. The same goes for Jason Patterson.

The class of 2024 prospect has been clocked at 10.97 in the 100 meters in track & field. Patterson has also recorded 4.5 times in the forty-yard dash. That speed shows up on the football field. Once the tailback gets by the second level, he is running away from defenders in the open field.

Patterson flashes good vision and feel on an off-tackle run and then hits the gas once he gets to the second level. The tailback is also able to get north/south quickly on a downhill run and shows explosion through the point of attack and pulls away from the secondary. This is a prospect that has shown some real game speed at the high school level.

Cincinnati RB commit Jason Patterson can run! He reached 20.8 mph on this 58-yard touchdown. #ReelAnalytics

🔗 https://t.co/IKk5DVUoz3 pic.twitter.com/6BFAZ3mLFm

— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 20, 2023

Kentucky has a type at tailback right now. The Wildcats want more speed on offense. Jason Patterson will give the offense more speed.

Strong run at tailback

Jamarion Wilcox, Tovani Mizell, and Jason Patterson all had similar recruiting profiles. Each was a high three-star recruit that received a strong amount of Power Five recruiting interest. Wilcox had Auburn and Clemson in heavy pursuit before deciding to roll with Kentucky. Mizell was a former Georgia commit who picked Kentucky over North Carolina, UCF, and had Oklahoma sniffing around. Patterson flipped his commitment from Cincinnati to Kentucky.

The Wildcats have recorded three solid recruiting wins at tailback. Each brings some speed to the table. Jay Boulware’s position room is adding quality depth. Jason Patterson will provide a proven history of production at the prep level along with good feel and explosive play potential.

Kentucky has recorded another good skill talent recruiting win.