From Backup to Breakout: Jason Patterson’s Development Paying Dividends for Kentucky

Kentucky brought in two running backs from the transfer portal to play over Jason Patterson. Yet a few minutes before hosting Tennessee, No. 26’s number was called to fill in for Seth McGowan. The redshirt freshman was ready for his moment.

Patterson had a team-high 16 carries for 51 yards, including the longest run of the day, a 17-yard gain. He also led the team in receptions with seven for 44 yards.

“It’s a testament to him, how he’s practiced. We’ve said it all along. You never know when you’re gonna get your chance, and when you do, for him to go out there and play well was a testament to him,” offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said on Tuesday.

Much of the offensive gameplan is built around quick passes for Cutter Boley. If those get taken away, he turns to the running back to get hidden yards from checkdowns. Without McGowan, Boley trusted Patterson to make those plays, even though pass-catching wasn’t something that was necessarily in his arsenal when he arrived in Lexington.

“It’s something you have to adapt to,” Patterson told KSR. “Coming to college and to have aspirations to go to the NFL, you gotta be able to catch the ball coming out of the backfield. That was something I had to work on when I first got here. Ever since then, I realized that I can catch. It’s something now that’s kind of what I lean on, catching balls out of the backfield, winning my one-on-ones, and making a play.”

Patterson’s reliability has been a vital asset, not just for the quarterback but for the play-caller.

“If a running back can be really good in the pass game, it’s kind of like playing with 12 guys. If you can’t be good in the pass game, sometimes it’s like playing with 10 guys,” said Hamdan.

Patterson Showed Growth Instead of Portaling

When Kentucky added two running backs from the transfer portal, nobody would have batted an eye if Patterson had decided to take his talents elsewhere. Instead, he kept his head down, focused on what he could do to improve his game, and learned from the new guys.

“I’m not one of those guys that’s unrealistic. I think there’s times when it’s the right thing for the guy, and I think we’ve all been around it,” said Hamdan.

“But so many times now, it’s just too soon, and guys might think the grass is greener somewhere else. I think he recognized exactly where his skillset was. This was a year he was going to go to work, and he kept going until he got an opportunity. It’s a physical league. We got physical backs, and you’re seeing the fruits of his labor as he’s playing more and more.”

In addition to improving his ability as a pass-catcher, Patterson believes he’s seeing the holes quicker, allowing him to hit them harder. Boley was confident his fellow redshirt freshman would be ready to answer the bell.

“I think he’s done an incredible job of stepping up and filling a role. I think we’ve always known the player J-Patt was, what he could be,” said the Kentucky quarterback.

“With Seth and Dante getting a lot of reps, he wasn’t getting in there a ton at first, but now, going throughout the SEC season, we’re going to get some dinks and bruises on everybody. People are going to be out for plays. I’m incredibly proud of him for stepping up and making plays like he has when his name’s been called for sure.”

It’s unclear how often his name will get called on Saturday at Auburn as McGowan’s status remains up in the air. Nevertheless, it is clear that this Kentucky running back has a bright future.

“He just keeps getting better,” said Hamdan. “He doesn’t say a whole lot, but he’s kind of an old school player who just keeps going to work and improving.”