Kentucky tailbacks are building trust during spring practice

The Kentucky offense has big shoes to fill at tailback. Chris Rodriguez Jr. is not walking through that door. For the first time since 2015, the Wildcats won’t have an All-SEC tailback on the roster. The hope is that offensive coordinator Liam Coen and running backs coach Jay Boulware can find the next star rusher in Lexington.

Unlike some previous seasons, we will likely see a true platoon at tailback from the Kentucky offense. The coaching staff addressed the position in the transfer portal by adding Vanderbilt tailback Ray Davis. Elsewhere, JuTahn McClain is back for year four in the program and La’Vell Wright returns from year three. Ramon Jefferson is still recovering from last year’s Week 1 knee injury. Each tailback is looking to build trust with the coaching staff before fall camp arrives.

“I really like Ray. He’s consistent, dependable, good, solid runner,” Coen told the media on Tuesday. “Missed a few on Saturday which he’ll learn from those. I’ve always trusted JuTahn as a guy that can come in and be steady and be on it. Good in the pass pro game. La’Vell just kind of hasn’t stayed healthy yet.”

All signs point to Davis and McClain having clear defined roles in the offense. However, there is one wild card in this situation that isn’t on campus yet. Jamarion Wilcox was a major recruiting win for Kentucky as the coaching staff scored a win on the trail for a 2023 prospect that had legit offers from Auburn, Clemson, and Ohio State. The Douglasville (Ga.) South Paulding product rushed for 2,059 yards as a senior scoring 30 total touchdowns. Wilcox will bring some explosiveness that Kentucky currently doesn’t have on the roster.

Competition for playing time will continue through the summer and into fall camp. We could see a true committee approach at tailback when the season arrives in September.

“They’re coming along,” Coen said.