Jason Patterson is the Latest Underclassman to Earn More Opportunities

Kentucky RB Jason Patterson runs the ball vs. Texas, via Dr. Michael Huang, KSR

An injury put Kentucky in a bind. Seth McGowan exited the field of play and left through the tunnel to get his shoulder examined. Trailing in the second half, Kentucky was without its best offensive athlete. Jason Patterson was prepared to answer the bell.

The redshirt freshman from Florida entered the game cold. It took him no time to heat up.

After an improbable scramble from Cutter Boley moved the chains on third down, Kentucky capitalized on that momentum by finding the running back in the flat. Patterson took it ten yards down the field to move the sticks. Kentucky picked up another first down on the opening possession of the third quarter before kicking a field goal to make it a 7-3 game.

The Cats had moved the ball all night, but desperately needed a touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Once again, Patterson kept the chains moving. After a first down throw to Josh Kattus, Patterson moved the pile four yards forward. On the next snap, his patience paid off, using a jump-cut to side-step a defender on an 11-yard run, the longest rush of the day by a Kentucky running back. Three plays later, Boley was running into the end zone.

“Jason Patterson really stepped up and filled that role, and he did a really good job when his name was called,” the Kentucky quarterback said after the game. “I’m really proud of him. He’s going to be a guy that’s really good for us.”

Patterson was able to fill in seamlessly in part because he’s an above-average pass-catcher, just what Kentucky had in the gameplan for McGowan.

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“For some of those things that happened, he was able to just be out there and do the right thing and know what to do with maybe limited reps in practice,” said offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan.

His stats on the box score didn’t pop off the page — seven carries for 20 yards, and two receptions for four yards — thanks to a couple of busted plays in the backfield. But Patterson brought explosiveness to the offense when they needed it most. It’s more evidence that No. 26 has a bright future, and a testament to his workmanlike mentality.

“He’s doing a good job, very happy for Jason,” said Mark Stoops. “It shows the steady progress from him, just working hard every day. He puts his head down and goes to work every day; it’s paying off for him.”