How does a team's leading rusher and most explosive offensive player go from fan-favorite to the bottom of the depth chart in one offseason? That is the mystery surrounding Kentucky running back Jamarion Wilcox. Just last year, he was the only consistent bright spot for the offense, leading the team in rushing. Today, he appears to be an afterthought.
Something happened between the end of last season and the start of this one. Based on reports and cryptic comments from the coaching staff, here's the inside story of Wilcox's shocking fall.
A breakout star in 2024
In a 2024 season where the Kentucky offense often struggled to find its footing, Jamarion Wilcox was a revelation. Every time he touched the ball, he injected energy and a burst of excitement. He finished the season as the team's leading rusher, and his stats told the story of a player who deserved more carries. His long of 50 was one of the longest plays all season through the air or on the ground.
Rushing | Carries | YDS | AVG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 92 | 590 | 6.4 | 2 |
Fans were clamoring for more of Wilcox, wondering why he wasn't a bigger part of the game plan.
The first red flag: "Tie your shoes"
Despite his production, there were whispers of off-field details holding him back from consistent playing time. They never surfaced in the media, but the whispers were always there. Those whispers grew into a roar with one of the most bizarre quotes of the Mark Stoops era. When asked why his leading rusher wasn't getting more playing time, Stoops delivered a line that was both funny and concerning:
"Here's a thing, tie your shoes ... He doesn't tie his shoes, so he runs it, but his shoe falls off, so he's got to come out. That would help."
At the time, it felt like a quirky motivational tactic from a seasoned coach. In hindsight, it may have been the first public sign of a deeper, ongoing issue.
The challenge: "He has not responded"
Many expected Wilcox might test the Transfer Portal waters in the offseason, but he chose to stay and fight for his spot. However, as the 2025 season approaches, that fight appears to have gone poorly. Wilcox was nowhere to be found on the initial two-deep depth chart, and recent reports suggest he may not be in the team's plans at all.
The situation was brought into sharp focus by Nick Roush of KSR, who posted on X: "Kentucky's coaches have given no indication whatsoever that he has made a push for playing time. They challenged him. He has not responded."
That is a stunning indictment and a dramatic fall from leading rusher to, at best, fourth on the depth chart behind established transfers.
An uncertain future in Lexington
For a player who once seemed like the future of Kentucky's backfield, the future is now incredibly uncertain. The talent is undeniable, but the path to playing time at UK looks more challenging than ever for Jamarion Wilcox. Big Blue Nation will be watching to see if he can respond to the coaches' challenge and reclaim the electric form he showed just last season.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. #UpTheAlbion