Adding size at tailback appears to be point of emphasis for Kentucky

The Kentucky coaching staff decided not to add a tailback to the roster in the 2022 recruiting class. That was largely due to what the Wildcats had returning at the position. That won’t be the case in the 2023 haul.

Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello is entering the season with five scholarship tailbacks on the roster, but both Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Kavosiey Smoke will be redshirt seniors this season. Therefore, adding some depth to the room is essential for the class of 2023.

After hosting Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin County running back Kaden Moorman for a camp visit last summer, the in-state talent quickly committed to the Wildcats over Wisconsin. At 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, the three-star running back will give the offense some more size. That’s important because the Wildcats are soon going to lose some power.

Heading into the season, Rodriguez is the only tailback on Kentucky’s roster that is over 205 pounds. Adding size to the position is a legitimate need for the program in this recruiting cycle. As the Wildcats search for their next guy at tailback in the 2023 class, the program does not appear to be going away from size.

On Thursday, KSR learned that Birmingham (Ala.) Parker tailback Khalifa Keith will be one of many official visitors for the Kentucky program this weekend. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, this is another prospect with size.

Kentucky is on their way to become a wide zone offense that aims to attack the edges of the defensive front while creating seams to cut runs back against the grain. Different types of backs can succeed in this offense but size is still important.

When games are on the line, third-and-short situations will emerge. When faced with those scenarios, play-callers must be able to lean on their offensive line and give the ball to their tailbacks to move the chains and extend drives when defenses know a run call is coming. The line will be trusted to do their job, but sometimes a back needs to be able to run through contact and create successful runs.

Both Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Benny Snell Jr. were able to create in these short-yardage situations to extend drives. Now Kentucky is looking for the next power tailback to become a go-to player in these short-yardage situations in the class of 2023.

It’s clear that Kentucky has addressed speed at running back in the past, but being able to grind out yards still has importance.