Kentucky Football Countdown: Profiling Kavosiey Smoke 100 Days from Kickoff

by:Nick Roush•05/26/22•

RoushKSR

Kavosiey Smoke — Jacob Noger | UK Athletics

Folks, it’s almost here. The Kentucky football team is only 100 days away from kicking off the season against Miami, Oh. at Kroger Field. KSR will count down the start of the season by providing a little preview of each player, starting with No. 0, Kavosiey Smoke.

About Smoke

A three-star recruit in 2018, he led Wetumpka (Al) to the school’s first state championship appearance in its 115-year history. As a senior he rushed for 1,508 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns to earn second team all-state honors. Even though college football fans love his first name, Kavosiey prefers to simply be called “Smoke.”

Smoke’s Career Highlights

In four years at Kentucky he has totaled 1,306 rushing yards, ranking No. 30 in school history. His best season came during the COVID shortened 2020 season, accumulating 820 yards on the ground. An explosive, big-play runner, he has five career carries over 30+ yards. He opened the 2019 with touchdown rushes of 32+ yards in the first two games of the season, a first in UK history.

Kavosiey Smoke Fun Fact

Did you know Kavosiey Smoke is the first Kentucky Wildcat to wear No. 0? A 2020 NCAA rule change allowed players to rock the single zero for the first time. Originally No. 20, Smoke dropped the deuce to become UK’s agent zero last fall.

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2022 Forecast

“You can’t make the club in the tub.” Durability concerns have stayed with Smoke throughout his career, with nagging injuries sidelining him for stretches each season. It’s opened the door for others to pass him by on the depth chart. Kentucky might be the only school in the country with a 1,300-yard rusher fourth on the depth chart, but JuTahn McClain and La’Vell Wright made great strides this spring, in large part thanks to their ability to catch passes out of the backfield.

Smoke may prove some spring naysayers wrong this fall, however, he only received double digit carries twice in 2021. Barring a lengthy suspension for Chris Rodriguez, it’s unlikely that number will increase this fall.