Kentucky’s running backs exceeding expectations
With Chip Trayanum out, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, Jamarion Wilcox and Jason Patterson have all stepped up in a big way.
LEXINGTON – Kentucky’s offense is far from where it needs to be if it wants to stack wins during its nine remaining regular season games, which will include six SEC contests and a matchup with No. 19 Louisville, but that is not because of the play at running back.
When Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum suffered a hand injury after UK’s first fall camp scrimmage, there was concern about the depth at the running back position from outside the program. Inside, Kentucky felt confident about its options and proved to be exactly right.
Three games into the season, UK’s running backs have combined for 401 rushing yards, averaging 5,5 yards per carry and a touchdown.
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye a senior, who played mostly as a slot receiver in his debut season with the Wildcats last fall and made just one start at running back in his two seasons at NC State, has carried the bulk of the load for the Wildcats and has thrived.
The New Jersey product has rushed for 227 yards and a touchdown on 47 attempts, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He ran for a career-high 98 yards in UK’s 13-12 loss to then-ranked No. 1 Georgia.
Averaging 75.6 rushing yards per game, Sumo-Karngbaye is on pace to rush to finish the regular season with 907.2 rushing yards.
“He definitely had to put in some work because he was a little bit in-between a year ago. We had Ray [Davis] and we used Demie in the slot some, we used him in a variety of ways, and this year we knew we needed a full commitment from him to be a great running back and I think you’re seeing growth there,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said
“Probably a little bit of a surprise. We certainly think highly of Demi, thought highly of Demie, but anytime you go in in the SEC, and you play against two good defenses and do what he did and the toughness he’s running with, it’s kind of like that quarterback,” offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan added. “You just never know what to expect until they actually get those opportunities and he’s done a really nice job.”
He has also been stellar in pass protection as per Pro Football Focus data, he has graded out at 71.4 in pass blocking, grading higher than any UK tight end of offensive linemen.
Behind him, a redshirt and true freshman have also shown flashes.
Redshirt freshman Jamarion Wilcox had a 10-yard in UK’s season opener against Southern Miss and, after not seeing any run in Week 2, stepped up as Kentucky’s No. 2 back against top-ranked Georgia and delivering 43 rushing yards on nine attempts, averaging 4.8 yards per carry which included a young career-long 15-yard run.
He as well excelled in pass protection, grading out at 77.2, the highest of any player on Kentucky’s roster.
“For a guy that’s a freshman to get out there and go play tough, and I thought protection-wise was extremely tough there as well. He’s always been willing. He’s just a guy that needs as many reps as he can get,” Hamdan said of Wilcox. “One of those guys that maybe didn’t think he was going to be getting as big an opportunity as he actually is, and we’re pleased with bringing him along.”
