JuTahn McClain will play in Kentucky's bowl game, potentially Ray Davis too

Kentucky’s running back room is in the midst of a rebuild, with Ray Davis leaving for the NFL, JuTahn McClain entering the transfer portal, and Ramon Jefferson out of eligibility. Even though their careers as Wildcats are coming to an end, all three may play in the Gator Bowl vs. Clemson.

At today’s press conference, Stoops said that McClain and Jefferson will definitely play in the bowl game on Dec. 29. He didn’t rule out Davis, who previously planned to sit out the game to prepare for the draft, suiting up too.

“JuTahn will play in the bowl game and so will Ramon [Jefferson],” Stoops said. “[Ray] announced that he wasn’t playing. I’m going to talk to him again. He’ll decide that. I’m not sure there’s not a possibility that he could come back and play in this game.”

McClain announced his plans to enter the portal last week. In four seasons at Kentucky, McClain totaled 643 yards on 135 carries and one rushing touchdown, but this season, only carried the ball 26 times for 138 yards. Stoops said the fact that McClain will play in Kentucky’s bowl game is a great example of how the transfer portal can be a win-win for both sides.

“Here’s the deal with the portal: most of the time it’s mutual. These young men have done an awful lot for the University of Kentucky. JuTahn, talking specifically about him, he’s an amazing person. He has done everything we’ve asked on every special team. He is locked in. I would assume he’s played in every game. He’s locked in on every protection. He’s a great teammate. And he deserves to be able to go do that.

“So, I think that’s the case. That doesn’t mean everybody will be in that situation. So, a lot of the portal is mutual. As I told you a week ago, if we didn’t have anybody get in the portal, we don’t have enough scholarships. We have to rotate some in and some out.”

As for Jefferson, Stoops hopes the Gator Bowl will be a good chance for him to showcase his talents to scouts and find a home on an NFL roster next spring. The super-senior finished this season strong, totaling 24 carries for 175 yards, 133 of those coming in the last three games.

“He definitely needs that opportunity,” Stoops said of Jefferson. “And he deserves that opportunity because I believe Ramon has a great opportunity to play in the NFL. And so that’ll give him an opportunity to go play in this game, along with a ton and others.”

Davis declared for the NFL Draft a week ago, a decision Stoops said did not catch the staff off guard — even if Davis flirted with the possibility of returning for one more year at some point this season.

“All along, we assumed it was a one-and-done year. We kind of knew that before he came. And then he did tease us for a minute. He said, ‘I started thinking about it for a minute, coming back for another year.’ But that didn’t last but a day or two, I think. So, no. We kind of anticipated that all along.”

Stoops believes close to 100% of team will play in the bowl

When he hasn’t been on the recruiting trail, Stoops said he’s spent the past week meeting with almost every player on the roster. The excitement over playing a big-name opponent like Clemson has some players reconsidering playing in the bowl. Stoops said he’s “90% sure” that Andru Phillips, who declared for the draft, will play in the bowl game too.

“I came away from those meetings just extremely encouraged with our players. Quite a few of them want to come back and are making these decisions and they can make them. That’s their story to tell, whether they’re going to the NFL or coming back and playing the bowl game or not.

“I could tell you the response has been incredible. Our guys are excited about this bowl game and want to play in this bowl game. And I think will be pretty darn close to 100% in this bowl game.”

Now pardon me while I go get my hopes up for one more game with Ray Davis in a Kentucky jersey.