Mark Stoops expects Tayvion Robinson, Jeremy Flax back at Tennessee

Despite coming in a bit shorthanded, Kentucky got the job done against Mississippi State. Quarterback Will Levis returned after a one-game hiatus, but standout wide receiver Tayvion Robinson was forced to miss the matchup with a leg injury, while starting tackle Jeremy Flax reaggravated his left hamstring injury early and sat out the entire second half.

The bye week comes at a crucial time, though, giving both players — along with the rest of the banged-up roster — two full weeks to heal. In fact, the expectation going into the bye week is that both Robinson and Flax will return when the Wildcats head to Knoxville on Oct. 29.

“I hope so. That should be the plan (for Robinson to return at Tennessee),” head coach Mark Stoops said on his call-in radio show Monday evening. “Flax, he should be better. We have a chance to get him back for the Tennessee game too.”

In Flax’s absence, Deondre Buford stepped in at right tackle and played extremely well down the stretch, a positive sign for the offensive line coming down the home stretch of the season.

“Deondre is getting better,” Stoops said. “We’ve moved him around a couple of different positions, but he’s a guy that treis extremely hard, he trains, he works and he’s getting better with every rep, every opportunity. We played much better as a group this past week.”

Part of that consistency up front? Guard Tashawn Manning, who has been battling a minor injury himself — and not from the disgusting assault he was a victim of against Mississippi State.

Tashawn Manning 💀💀pic.twitter.com/zSpPoieAUd

— Cats Coverage (@Cats_Coverage) October 16, 2022

Instead, he’s been working through a foot injury, which Stoops says is “getting much better.”

“He’s played winning football for the most part throughout the year,” Stoops said of Manning. “He’s had a foot injury that he has had to manage, but I think we’re getting through it pretty good. He’s getting much better now, so that’s good. He’s a big strong presence for us in there.”

The UK head coach also provided a minor update on redshirt sophomore pass-rusher Sam Anaele, who has played in just four games in three years with the Wildcats. A four-star, top-100 recruit originally out of Nigeria, he’s racked up two tackles and one tackle for loss in that span.

The 6-foot-4, 287-pound defensive end has been hurt to start the year. A return, though, could be right around the corner.

“He’s been injured, but he’s getting better,” Stoops said. “He’s getting back, so hopefully we’ll see him in there.”

Needless to say, the bye week is coming at a perfect time for the Wildcats.