2023 Kentucky Position Previews: Tailback

Kentucky’s fall camp is right around the corner. Before the Cats officially begin the 2023 season in August, KSR is taking a closer look at the roster and analyzing each position group. Personnel, storylines, questions, and one bold prediction will be included.

Up next is tailback where first-year assistant Jay Boulware has legitimate quality depth but maybe not a clear RB1 entering 2023.

KSR Position Previews: Quarterback

Personnel

Kentucky enters the season with six scholarship tailbacks on the roster plus one super senior who will fill a fullback role. All but one player has seen extensive playing time in their collegiate careers.

— Ramon Jefferson (Super Senior): The former tailback at Maine, Garden City Community College, and Sam Houston is back for year two at Kentucky. The New York native rushed for over 1,100 yards and was an FCS All-American in 2021 before being knocked out for the season in Week 1 last year. Jefferson has received a medical redshirt and is a true wild card for the offense.

— Justice Dingle (Super Senior): A former Georgia Tech transfer, Dingle is back for year three with Kentucky and has settled in at fullback. The Bowling Green (Ky.) High alum could play a role in short-yardage packages.

— Ray Davis (Redshirt Senior): Yet another transfer, Davis has made the switch from Vanderbilt to Kentucky after beginning his career at Temple. A redshirt senior with two years of eligibility remaining, Davis rushed for 1,042 yards last year running behind one of the worst offensive lines in the Power Five. He’s considered the favorite to open the season as RB1.

— JuTahn McClain (Senior): The former top-500 tailback has rushed for 505 yards during his Kentucky career, but durability and efficiency (37.6% success rate) have been an issue the last two seasons. However, McClain brings real pass-game value and should be Kentucky’s top third down back.

— Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (Junior): The second tailback transfer of this past recruiting cycle, the New Jersey native spent two seasons at NC State rushing for 305 yards (5.5 yards per rush) and reeled in 12 receptions in eight games. DSK will compete with McClain for the third down role and has flashed potential as a zone runner.

— La’Vell Wright (Redshirt Sophomore): Wright struggled in his first shot at playing time rushing for 120 yards (3.1 yards per rush) on 39 attempts. Vision and feel appeared to be an issue for the Radcliff (Ky.) North Hardin product and finding a role in a deep backfield could be tough this season.

— Jamarion Wilcox (Freshman): A significant recruiting win in the Atlanta Metro, Wilcox rushed for 2,059 yards and scored 30 total touchdowns for Douglasville (Ga.) South Paulding as a senior. The rookie who picked UK over Auburn, Clemson, and Ohio State has some big play juice and could carve out a role in the offense as a true freshman.

Expected starter

For the first time in quite a while, Kentucky does not have a clear RB1 entering the season. There will most likely not be a workhorse for offensive coordinator Liam Coen to lean on. We should expect a committee approach.

The Wildcats return 3,570 career FBS rushing yards and 19 touchdowns to this room. Ray Davis is the most accomplished tailback to this point, and he enters training camp as the clubhouse favorite to be the starter, but there will be a healthy rotation throughout the season. In third down situations, JuTahn McClain figures like the next best option with Demie Sumo-Karngbaye in the mix. Ramon Jefferson and Jamarion Wilcox are both wild cards that could come on late in the year with fresh legs.

Jay Boulware has options.

One Big Question: Will a true RB1 emerge?

Kentucky has produced numerous 1,000-yard rushers in previous seasons. Lynn Bowden Jr., Benny Snell Jr., and Chris Rodriguez Jr. each parlayed a huge season(s) into hearing their names called at the NFL Draft. But that is not the case this year.

Ray Davis has reached the 1,000-yard mark in the SEC, but he does not appear to be in the same caliber as Snell and Rodriguez. Ramon Jefferson had an outstanding run at Sam Houston but is coming off a knee injury. JuTahn McClain and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye each missed time with injuries in 2022.

All signs point to a committee approach this season.

Key Storyline: Can Kentucky run the football when they have to?

Mark Stoops wants his teams to play with an identity. Typically that has meant zone-heavy defenses that take away big plays and a ball control offense that can milk the clock and hold leads. To do that, you must be able to run the ball with efficiency in the traditional run game. Both Benny Snell Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr. were able to do that. We are unsure if this group will be able to.

This is where the value for Ray Davis will be. Kentucky needs the SEC transfer to break tackles, fall forward, and move the chains when the Wildcats are looking to play keep away or grind out a game. Signs point to the passing game leading the way on offense, but the Cats still need to be able to pound the rock.

Only time will tell if this offense can grind out first downs without a true bell cow in the lineup.

One Bold Prediction: Jamarion Wilcox becomes a home run hitter in November

Many of the parts could be interchangeable at tailback for Kentucky. Ray Davis and Ramon Jefferson are bigger north/south runners who could grind out some yards between the tackles. JuTahn McClain and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye are versatile backs who can make an impact as pass catchers. But none appear to have the big playmaking juice that Jamarion Wilcox can provide.

Expect the true freshman to have a limited role early, but as attempts pile up, Kentucky will work the rookie into the rotation. With fresh legs late, we will see some of Wilcox’s splash play potential as the freshman will give the offense the explosive runs that have been missing for a long time.

Wilcox will become one of the team’s biggest playmakers in the last few weeks of the season.