Report: Chris Rodriguez out for Kentucky due to NCAA eligibility inquiry

NS_headshot_clearbackgroundby:Nick Schultz•09/09/22•

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More details are starting to come out about the Chris Rodriguez situation at Kentucky. The Wildcats’ star running back is part of an eligibility inquiry, according to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde.

Rodriguez missed Kentucky’s season opener last week against Miami (Ohio) and will reportedly miss the Week 2 game against Florida as he awaits a decision on his status. Kentucky hasn’t said why Rodriguez has missed the start of the season, although he also pleaded guilty to a DUI charge over the summer.

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Forde also added, citing sources, that the NCAA and the university are looking into the situation.

It’s unclear when Rodriguez will return to the Kentucky lineup after leading the team in rushing a year ago. Jordan Wright’s availability was also up in the air until he was cleared to play against Florida earlier this week.

More on Chris Rodriguez’s availability for Kentucky

Earlier this week, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show and said he didn’t have an update on the status of players who didn’t play last week against Miami (OH) in the season opener. He didn’t specifically name Rodriguez in his answer, but alluded to the situation.

“It’s really something that I can’t comment on,” Stoops said regarding the situation around players who didn’t play last week. “There’s layers to it. Let me put it to you that way. If I knew, if it was my decision, I wouldn’t be hem-hawing around about it. That’s really all I should say. There’s layers to it, there’s layers to this inve- what’s going on. I just have to let it play out.”

On Tuesday, KSR’s Matt Jones reported Kentucky is waiting on the NCAA to make a decision on both players. He said it’s likely out of the university’s hands.

“I am told it is the NCAA (causing the hold up). That UK is basically waiting to hear (from the NCAA),” Jones said, via KSR’s Nick Rousch. “They thought they would hear yesterday and they have not yet. So this is not a UK delay. It is an NCAA delay.”