Kentucky Offense Navigating Crowded Running Back Room

The Kentucky running back room has undergone a dramatic offseason transformation. Different doesn’t necessarily mean worse.

The Cats are adjusting to life after Benny Snell and Chris Rodriguez, two of the three most productive running backs in school history. Over six years, Kentucky leaned on its bell-cows. Now offensive coordinator Liam Coen is learning how to run the ball by distributing it to multiple players with varying talents.

“I do have a lot of confidence in the guys that are here right now,” Coen said at Friday’s media day. “What that looks like? I can’t really say right now in terms of how many reps, or how many carries each guy gets, but it will be a little bit different in terms of being able to utilize all of our backs, utilizing all of our personnel.”

KSR spoke to four different running backs that will share carries this fall, and missed out on two other contributors, JuTahn McClain and La’Vell Wright. Kentucky’s depth needs to be its strength.

“If you can get all those guys a lot of work while keeping them fresh throughout the season, I think that’ll be really important,” said Coen.

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Versatility in the Deep Running Back Room

Not only does Kentucky have depth, each player brings a little something different to the table. If there was one word to describe Jay Boulware‘s room, it’s versatility.

“It’s just like an NFL training camp,” said Ramon Jefferson. “You’ve got different types of running backs and everybody brings their own spice. We can all do it.”

Jefferson describes himself as a one-cut tackle-breaker. He was incredibly productive prior to coming to the University of Kentucky as an FCS All-American, but suffered a season-ending injury on his first series in a Kentucky uniform.

“I feel good. I was able to get back out there the first two days of practice, get some reps, get going again. Once you see yourself on film again, it’s like, ‘Wow, I’m back out there.’ My teammates are picking me up too. ‘All right, you’re looking kind of good out there.’ There’s been a lot of that and that’s been encouraging.”

Jefferson is one of three returners. Kentucky also brought in three new guys. The freshman, Jamarion Wilcox, was a late addition in the 2023 recruiting class that tallied more than 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns last fall.

“They feel like I’ll be a key factor in the way I play,” he told KSR. “I can do different things. I’m mysterious. I can make long runs, catch the ball, all kinds of things.”

What Davis, DSK Bring to the Table

If Ramon Jefferson is the tackle breaker and Jamarion Wilcox is mysterious, then Ray Davis is the leader. A 1,000-yard rusher at Vanderbilt last fall, the intelligent, outspoken newcomer uses his words and actions to set a high bar for the running back room.

“Show up everyday and be consistent,” he said. “We had a special program here yesterday and they had us write down one word that would describe us during camp and I chose consistency because I gotta be the best person I can be, on and off the field. My peers look at me, not just as a football player, but as a young man and that’s what I got to do to separate myself.”

If Demie Sumo-Karngbaye had one word to describe himself, it would be versatility. The former NC State tailback played receiver, quarterback and defensive back in high school, even picking off Devin Leary‘s younger brother during a game. The UK quarterback played a significant role in DSK’s decision to come to Kentucky.

“For one, Devin. That was the first reason I’d say (why I came to Kentucky). After that it was the versatility aspect; I played all those different positions. I came here and they explained how running backs are used and I saw I fit well. I saw the value I could bring to the table with all of the tools we have.”

There’s no shortage of offensive weapons at Liam Coen’s disposal this fall. Like Wilcox, how he uses each player will remain a mystery until it’s officially Football Time in the Bluegrass.

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