Kentucky makes top list for 3-star RB Jamarion Wilcox

The Kentucky football staff is having to replace a stable of running backs heading into the 2023 season. Multiple ball carriers have already put their names in the transfer portal while star tailback Chris Rodriguez Jr. is headed to the NFL. The Wildcat coaches have several names in mind though, one of which just included UK in his list of top options.

On Thursday afternoon, three-star class of 2023 running back Jamarion Wilcox announced that he’s down to a final four of Kentucky, Ohio State, Clemson, and Auburn. Wilcox has only taken one official visit thus far, which was a trip to Lexington in mid-October. The Wildcats were the first of his top four to extend a scholarship, which came from associate head coach Vince Marrow back in May.

Clocking in at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, the Douglasville (GA) South Paulding product is considered the No. 607 overall senior and a top 50 running back in the country, per the On3 Consensus.

Thank The Man Above 🪬 pic.twitter.com/hG3CZlpFhb

— //1// (@JamarionWilcox1) December 8, 2022

Kentucky has been after Wilcox for months now, much longer than his other three finalists. Clemson helped put him on the national map with an offer in September, which was followed by one from Ohio State in mid-November. Auburn only offered him just a few days ago on Dec. 5. A potential trip to Auburn is reportedly on the table, too. Wilcox received a written scholarship offer from the ‘Cats on August 1 (the very first day coaches could do so) and took an unofficial visit to UK in June.

Wilcox can credit a terrific 2022 senior season for his rise in popularity among big-name programs. According to MaxPreps, the power back accumulated over 2,000 yards on the ground in 11 appearances for South Paulding High School, producing 29 touchdowns with an average of 9.0 yards per carry. As a result, he’s beginning to receive some rating bumps across recruiting services. The folks over at Rivals recently moved him up to a four-star and a top 150 prospect in the entire country — regardless of position.

Kentucky is in need of a player like Wilcox. With the recent decommitments of Kaden Moorman and Khalifa Keith, the cupboard of running backs in 2023 is dry. Along with Wilcox, the staff is also paying close attention to the likes of Trey Cornist (who plays for Cincinnati’s Winton Woods, a pipeline school for the ‘Cats over the years) and Jaquez Keyes (who decommitted from Wisconsin a day after UK coaches paid him a visit). Additionally, Vanderbilt transfer running back Re’Mahn “Ray” Davis picked up an offer from Kentucky on Monday.

Something to note is that Wilcox was initially recruited to Kentucky by former running backs coach John Settle, who was let go from the program over a week ago, along with current defensive line coach Anwar Stewart. However, it’s been rumored that a new running backs coach is on the way to Lexington, and the coaching turnover doesn’t appear to have turned Wilcox off of the ‘Cats. Stewart also remains on staff.

You can check out Wilcox’s senior film below.