Mark Stoops provides expectations for Chris Rodriguez in return

Chris Rodriguez will make his season debut this Saturday against the Ole Miss Rebels after serving a four-game suspension to begin the year. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops labeled the expectations for his star running back against Ole Miss and what it’ll mean for his Wildcats’ rushing attack.

“We’re excited to get Chris back,” Stoops said during Wednesday’s SEC Teleconference. “Obviously, he’s a very good football player that has a lot of experience and we’ve been inconsistent in the run game. That’s not all in the running backs, it’s everybody around them needing to play more consistent. And hopefully he’ll provide that spark we’re looking for in the run game.

“Chris just needs to be him. He’s been practicing with us so he shouldn’t be too rusty. And some of that time, he spent over on the scout team, so he’s been hit and thudded. We all know games are different, but he has a lot of experience. So you know, hopefully, he’ll hit the ground running here this week.”

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Getting Rodriguez back couldn’t have come sooner. Without his services through four games, Kentucky ranks last in the SEC in yards per carry and second-to-last in rushing yards per game with 81.5. A year ago, Rodriguez averaged 6.1 yards per carry and surpassed 100 yards on the ground in nine of 13 games. That wasn’t just last year, either. He’s been causing opposing defensive coordinators headaches since arriving in Lexington in 2018.

Through his career, the McDonough, GA-native has amassed 2,739 rushing yards this season. Before his suspension was announced, many believed Rodriguez was on pace to surpass Benny Snell Jr. as the Wildcats’ all-time leading rusher (3,873 yards). Over 1,000 yards to go and quarter of the season already behind us, Rodriguez will need to average Heisman-esque numbers to take that title. Until then, he sits at No. 6 in UK history.

The Wildcats travel to No. 14 Ole Miss on Saturday for a noon kickoff on ESPN. Like Kentucky, the Rebels bring in a clean 4-0 record. Unlike Kentucky, Lane Kiffin’s squad has yet to face an SEC opponent so far this season.