The Kentucky football program has a genuine star in the making in freshman running back Benny Snell Jr. His development should be a top priority.
The Kentucky football program has been living in mediocrity for a vast majority of this unrewarding decade. There have been flashes of brilliance, but sustained success has been been quite difficult to come by.
Though one player doesn’t guarantee team success, Kentucky appears to have one of the best young talents in the country in freshman running back Benny Snell Jr.
Snell has provided a powerful balance to Stanley Boom Williams’ all-around contributions on the ground. He’s dominated third downs, embarrassed upperclassmen, and worked tirelessly to extend plays.
In each of his four appearances in 2016, Snell has looked the part of a star in the making.
In four games played, Snell has run for 341 yards and five touchdowns on 61 carries. That gives him an average of 5.6 yards per carry.
He’s rushed for no less than 4.6 yards per carry in any of those four outings.
Though he’s had more explosive performances, it was against the Vanderbilt Commodores that the star potential was most evident.
Our offensive player of the game is freshman running back Benny Snell, Jr., who had 44 yards alone on that last drive. #VANvsUK pic.twitter.com/cIEfYRZntn
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 9, 2016
Snell secured the victory for Kentucky.
Snell picked up 94 yards on 20 carries as the Wildcats pulled out a 20-13 victory over the Commodores. He was brought in on a number of short-yardage plays, and he powered his way through contact on more than one occasion.
That includes a run that firmly embodied what it is that makes him so special as a player.
Snell is an absolute warrior.
He’s yet to make an impact as a pass-catcher, but Snell is a workhorse. That may or may not translate to the modern NFL, but it’s something that bodes well for a college team—specifically a team in the SEC.
It’s even better for Kentucky when one considers the fact that Boom Williams is still on the roster.
UK (Benny Snell/Boom Williams) and LSU (Derrius Guice/Leonard Fournette) are only #SEC schools with two RBs averaging 5.5+ yards per rush.
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) October 9, 2016
Williams has run for 540 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries through six games. He’s averaging 7.1 yards per carry in 2016, which would match the school record he set in 2015.
Throw in the presence of senior Jojo Kemp, who has three rushing touchdowns in 2016, and Snell has two respected mentors.
That could set both Snell and Kentucky football up for indescribable success.
He may or may not yet be ready for the role of a No. 1 running back, but Snell has unlimited upside. He’s a coachable player who embodies what it means to be a star in the SEC.
Between his physicality, tenacity, and will to win, Snell has earned the label of a star on the rise.
Landing Snell ranks amongst Mark Stoops’ greatest recruiting achievements thus far.