Ramon Jefferson emerging amid availability concerns for Chris Rodriguez

Kentucky is expected to be without star running back Chris Rodriguez to open the season — likely for three to four weeks — with a final decision expected next week.

For now, though, Mark Stoops does not have an official update on his senior standout.

“I don’t (have an update),” Stoops said Saturday. “I’ll have one as we get closer to game time, with the roster and everything. You guys know I’ve always been as up-front and honest as I can be at all times with injuries or anything like that. I’ll get it out to you soon enough.”

Should Rodriguez miss the start of the season, as expected, who will Kentucky turn to in the backfield? Stoops says the running back rotation is “by committee” at this point, with several talented pieces fighting for reps in the home stretch of fall camp.

“That’s gonna be by committee,” he said. “I’ll come in here in, what, two weeks? That Monday, we’ll have a depth chart. Till then, we have a lot of confidence in those guys. They have a lot of different strengths and different weaknesses, but they’re all very good players. We’ll kind of iron that out.”

A name emerging as a top performer in the backfield and likely starter in Rodriguez’s absence to open the year? Sam Houston State transfer Ramon Jefferson, an FCS All-American who joined the program in June.

“You’ve got Ramon, who had some really tough runs today,” Stoops said. “I thought he showed what he’s capable of today. He was very physical and did some really good things.”

“He’s a great player for us,” Will Levis added. “I mean we’re so solid and deep in the backfield. … Ramone is like a little bowling ball, like a smaller version of Chris, maybe a little shiftier. He’s got a good feel too, just a smart football player. He’s doing a really good job in protection, getting in his spots in the passing game, able to catch balls out of the backfield. As long as he just plays how he is and who he is as a player, he’s going to get reps for us and make an impact, for sure. I’m excited.”

“He’s definitely a great back, excited me a lot today, actually,” defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine said. “He just goes out there, plays ball. But yeah, he’s tough to tackle. He’s a little back, so you have to get a little bit lower to the ground with him [laughs].”

Jefferson, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound Bronx, NY native, was named an FCS Second-Team All-American in 2021 by the Associated Press after rushing for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns. This will be his sixth and final year of eligibility.

It’s not just Jefferson, though, standing out in practice. The entire running back room is looking the part, Stoops says, a versatile group all capable of producing.

“You’ve got JuTahn (McClain), who is so good out of the backfield, which is important in this offense. You can get a lot of things done with him. Then, of course, you’ve got Kavosiey (Smoke). We’ve got a deep room. We have different styles, we have physical guys, some guys that are a little faster, a little more elusive in the open field.”

Kentucky is set to take on Miami (OH) to open the season on Sept. 3, followed by Florida on Sept. 10, Youngstown State on Sept. 17 and Northern Illinois on Sept. 24. Should Rodriguez be out that entire stretch, expect Jefferson to step in as the team’s go-to rushing option in the backfield.

From there, there’s confidence in the other pieces to pick up the slack further down the depth chart.