RB Ramon Jefferson Receives Seventh Season of Eligibility

On3 image — Photo by Aaron Perkins | Kentucky Sports Radio

The Kentucky running back room will have another veteran for the 2023 season. Ramon Jefferson has been granted another year of eligibility from the NCAA, a UK spokesperson confirmed to Kentucky Sports Radio.

Ramon Jefferson was a high-profile offseason addition to the Wildcats’ roster last summer. The hype was met with disappointment when the sixth-year running back suffered a torn ACL on his second carry of the 2022 season.

Jefferson was a decorated running back at the FCS level that earned All-American honors after totaling 1,155 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in the fall of 2021 for Sam Houston State. Thanks to his explosive play-making ability, the Bearkats won the FCS Championship in the spring 2021 season.

A 5-foot-10, 215-pound running back from the Bronx, he knows the Wildcats’ new play-caller well. Liam Coen was Maine’s offensive coordinator during his first college football season all the way back in 2017.

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Ramon Jefferson is still rehabilitating his injured right knee. He’s currently able to run sprints and lift weights at the Joe Craft Football Training Center.

Everything’s a go 💫 pic.twitter.com/CdnSKoiuXo
— Ramon Jefferson (@Jefferson1Ramon) February 14, 2023

The return of Ramon Jefferson is welcome news for Coen and new running backs coach Jay Boulware. Kentucky must find players to replace the production of Chris Rodriguez, who finished his career last fall ranked third on UK’s all-time rushing list. Kentucky’s leading returner from last season is JuTahn McClain, who tallied 278 yards on 59 attempts last fall. The Wildcats brought in Vanderbilt’s 1,000-yard rusher, Ray Davis, from the transfer portal to supplement a UK rushing attack that ranked No. 13 in the SEC last fall (116.2 yards per game).

The Wildcats will not be able to snap their fingers to replace C-Rod. It’s also unclear what exactly Kentucky will get from the former FCS player who’s returning from a season-ending injury. However, with Jefferson back for the 2023 season, Kentucky has a pair of players with proven production at previous stops.