Kentucky football: C-Rod unknown return date means runningback by committee
By Eric Thorne
Ramone Jefferson most well-traveled, experienced, and complete backup
With the whole Rodriguez issue, Stoops went into the transfer portal and plucked Ramone Jefferson out in hopes of an instant, sold and experienced back to fill the need. From the word coming out of camp he has been what Stoops had hoped for.
At 5-10, 215-pounds from the Bronx, NY he has traveled a lot of miles before ending up in the Bluegrass State playing at Maine, Garden City Community College in Kansas, and two seasons at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas.
He closely resembles Rodriguez and how tough he is to bring down and if he gets through the line of scrimage is like a bull charging ahead and nearly impossible to drag down.
At Maine, he played in 12 games rushing for 1,037 yards on 182 carries and eight touchdowns and six catches for 50 yards and a score under former Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Cohen.
He headed to Garden City where he racked up 994 yards and 13 scores and most importantly for Kentucky fans did not lose a fumble in 168 carries for the season. We have witnessed far too many of those including Rodriguez.
Covid wiped out the 2020 season at Sam Houston but last year the Bearkats played two seasons (a fall and spring) in 2021 where he sprinted for 1,907 yards on 299 carries in 22 games.
He has been showing up as one of the biggest studs in the backfield so far he very well may have the start in the opener against Miami.