Benny Snell's Heisman campaign took a big step forward

by:Mrs. Tyler Thompson09/22/18

@MrsTylerKSR

Photo by UK Athletics

Benny Snell has been fueled by disrespect this season, but he’s about to get a ton of love from the national media following his four touchdown performance in Kentucky’s upset of No. 14 Mississippi State tonight.

Earlier this week, the Bulldogs’ top running back Kylin Hill laughed at Benny’s bravado online, but Benny walked the walk tonight, putting up 165 yards on 25 carries, almost tripling Mississippi State’s total rushing yards. Afterwards, Kentucky fans chanted, “HEISMAN” at Benny as he reveled in the postgame celebration:

With four touchdowns tonight, Benny now has 39 as a Wildcat, putting him in sole possession of Kentucky’s career touchdowns record, a title he took from Randall Cobb.

“It was a long time coming. I’m very blessed. I want to just give a side note with that, my O-line, my tight ends, I’m nothing without them. Especially with the receivers blocking on the outside, they do such a great job getting movement, getting me to the end zone. Without them, I’m nothing. But, I’m very happy. I’m very happy I got the record. That’s just one down, we’ve got more to go.”

Earlier this week, Cobb cheered for Snell to break his record on social media, a challenge Benny took to heart.

“I was like, ‘Randall, I got you baby,'” Snell said. “I’m gonna do it.”

Another former Kentucky great cheering for Benny to break his record is Sonny Collins, Kentucky’s all-time leading rusher. Collins was an honorary captain tonight and met Benny at practice yesterday, where he issued a challenge of his own.

“He told me, ‘I want you to get that record.’ He told me he wants me to get that record and how great of a runner I was. I was just humbled.”

Snell is 872 yards from breaking Collins’ record, which is 109 yards per game in the regular season, 97 through the postseason. Benny, who is currently fourth on the program’s all-time rushing list, said it would be an honor to be in Collins’ company.

“Sonny Collins, he’s a great guy and he was a great runner too. Oh my gosh, I love watching his film. It was great to meet him at practice and for him to be honorary captain and for him to be out there, it was amazing. I always want to learn and be around greats. I always want to learn. I’m a sponge.”

Mississippi State gave Benny even more fuel just before the game began. A pregame scuffle broke out between the two teams during warm-ups, and, not surprisingly, No. 26 was right in the middle.

“It was the linebackers, the big D-lineman, number 94, they were like, ‘Yeah, I want you, I want you!’ I was like, ‘Oh yeah? I want YOU! I want YOU!’ You know, just hype talk. They came — it was at the 50, and we’re at home, so I told all my guys, we took that as disrespect. That’s disrespectful for them to come in our home and do that. I told the guys, and they were like, ‘Alright, we’re going to handle it. Let’s do it.'”

When will teams learn??

But back to all that Heisman talk. What does Benny make of the ultimate brass ring?

“I’m going to let that just be in the air,” Benny told reporters. “It is what it is. My play speaks for itself.”

Yes, it does. Enjoy him now, BBN. He’s special.

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