First Down Kentucky: More Offensive Players in the Mix

The Kentucky offense was taking incremental steps forward until it shot itself in the foot time and time again against Vanderbilt. A dozen penalties, a turnover, and a botched play on special teams took away three scoring opportunities that ultimately cost the Cats a chance at a win.

Kentucky has four touchdowns in four SEC games. To change things up, they’re changing who is taking snaps on the field.

I’ll admit, I was hesitant to pick up what Mark Stoops was putting down when he teased Chip Trayanum‘s return on Monday night’s coach’s show. We played this back-and-forth game already once before the Ole Miss game. Fool me once, am I right? Tonight it became clear the head coach wasn’t just fishing for good news to share with BBN.

When Demie Sumo-Karngbaye was talking about the running back room as a whole, he ended by saying, “Now we got Chip back.” It sounds like the Ohio State transfer is preparing to make his 2024 debut at Florida. His physicality in the trenches could help the struggling offense find much-needed answers in the red zone.

More Kentucky Offensive Linemen in the Mix

The offensive line has been better since that disaster at South Carolina, but many of the senseless penalties stemmed from the trenches. One false start at the 1-yard line cost the Cats a touchdown. Two holding penalties took away a last-ditch effort to score a go-ahead touchdown.

Bush Hamdan said they’ll be digging deeper down the depth chart to get more guys involved. Malachi Wood played a few snaps as an extra blocking tight end in unbalanced formations last week and we should see more of that at Florida. Courtland Ford was cleared to play last week for the first time all season and the USC transfer may begin playing a more prominent role against the Gators.

“Courtland, for the first time since he’s been here, is 100% healthy,” said center Eli Cox. “He’s had a lingering hand and wrist deal so that’s set him back. I know it’s disappointed him because he feels he can be a better football player that can contribute to this team. It’s finally good to see him out there without a cast on for like the first time in two years.”

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DSK’s Message to Jamarion Wilcox

Jamarion Wilcox became the most talked about player in BBN when Mark Stoops made his shoe-tying comments on Monday. The talented redshirt freshman has struggled to do the little things the right way to consistently see the field, and Stoops used his untied shoes as an example that got folks fired up.

While it created a stir around the fanbase, Sumo-Karngbaye has stepped in to be a helpful veteran. He took lumps for years before receiving significant snaps and learned plenty of lessons that can now help Wilcox get out of this hole.

“It’s not always going to look pretty. It wasn’t pretty for me. It wasn’t pretty for any of the other guys,” said Kentucky’s leading rusher.

“Right now it’s just understanding that this isn’t the end goal. There’s a bright future ahead of you with the carries that you got and the things that you’re learning right now, understanding pass-blocking and the whole game. He’s gotta become a pro. He’s so young right now too. He’s going to have his mistakes, as well as others. Just enjoy the process, that’s the message I got for him.”

Kentucky Not Changing Up the Wimsatt Package

You rarely see teams use two quarterbacks in the way Kentucky does. If they play two quarterbacks, it’s usually one series at a time, rather than subbing in one guy for a play or two in the middle of drives. Bush Hamdan was asked if they’ve considered letting Gavin Wimsatt have the keys to the offense for a total drive and the offensive coordinator said that option is not currently on the table.

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