Three Kentucky players to watch against South Carolina
Kentucky’s SEC opener has arrived, and we will get some night football under the lights at Kroger Field with some cooler temperatures rolling into Central Kentucky. Following a loss last week, the Big Blue will look to get off the mat against South Carolina.
The elephant in the room is that Somerset (Ky.) High product Kaiya Sheron could be making his first career start at Kentucky as star Will Levis is being slowed by a lower extremity injury. Regardless, whoever is behind center is going to need some help from his teammates.
KSR will be paying close attention to three individuals as each could play a critical role at Kroger Field on Saturday night.
Can Chris Rodriguez Jr. continue dominance against South Carolina?
Kentucky welcomed All-SEC tailback Chris Rodriguez Jr. back to the lineup last week, and the McDonough (Ga.) Ola product gave the offense a spark. The Cats still posted some pedestrian rushing numbers, but Rodriguez was able to break some tackles and turn nothing into something.
Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will need RB1 to carry a heavier workload this week while also providing his trademark efficiency. Luckily for Rodriguez, he’ll be facing a defense he’s had a ton of success against.
Rodriguez has rushed for 348 yards and four touchdowns against Carolina on 7.6 yards per rush. The tailback was Kentucky’s top offensive player in each of the last two meetings and will need to produce again for the Cats on Saturday.
Kentucky needs its workhorse tailback to be a workhorse. UK will have a hard time winning this game without a good game from its star tailback.
Deone Walker could be make a huge difference
Deone Walker became a surprise starter for the Kentucky defense as a true freshman and the blue-chip prospect out of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech has quickly become the best player on the three-down front in Lexington. Last week, Walker played a career-high 49 snaps and is emerging as Kentucky’s best interior rusher and run stuffer.
That is big this week as South Carolina’s offensive line might be the worst in the SEC.
Despite multiple returning starters, the Gamecocks have all kinds of issues on the interior and that’s leading to Spencer Rattler getting rid of the ball quick on short passes quite often as the redshirt junior has a low depth of target (6.8). Only dink-and-dunk master Will Rogers has a lower number in the SEC.
Lately, the Gamecocks will want to establish the run with MarShawn Lloyd, and Walker could help eliminate that.
Kentucky’s true freshman defensive tackle could make a big impact on Saturday night. He’s already proven to be the best playmaker on the unit, and the Cats could use a few havoc plays to help tilt the game on Saturday.
D’Eryk Jackson steps in at Mike
Kentucky will be without starting super senior linebacker Jacquez Jones for the a few games, and his presence will be missed. The Ole Miss transfer has been one of the top performers on Brad White’s unit this season.
It’s next man up time for assistant coach Mike Stoops and redshirt sophomore D’Eryk Jackson will earn his second career start on Saturday.
The South Georgia product has played 123 snaps this season but has missed some tackles and had some rough moments in coverage last week when Jaxson Dart was able to complete some over routes with the young linebacker lagging behind in coverage.
Kentucky will need Jackson to step up and play some good football next to DeAndre Square. Kentucky’s coaches seem high on Jackson, but Saturday is a big opportunity. The new starter must play his fits well in the run game and tackle some South Carolina running backs and tight ends in space when the Gamecocks dump the ball off.
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