Losing Seth McGowan to graduation and Dante Dowdell to the portal left a massive void in the Kentucky backfield.
Will Stein and the staff tried to fill it quickly via the portal, bringing in CJ Baxter (Texas) and Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma). On paper, those are elite-level talents. But if you look closer, they are also guys with an injury history that should make any Kentucky fan a little nervous.
That is why getting another commitment in the Class of 2026 is such a big deal. You can never have enough healthy legs in the SEC. Fortunately, Stein didn't have to look far to find one.
Jay’Quan Crawford provides desperately needed depth for the Cats
Jay’Quan Crawford, a 3-star tailback out of nearby Franklin County, has committed to the Wildcats. Crawford is the 13th-best prospect in the state, according to 247, and while he might not have the 5-star hype of a portal addition, he brings a physicality that this room needs.
At 6'1" and just over 200 pounds, Crawford already has the frame to survive in this league. On tape, he runs with a very upright style, reminiscent of some older-school backs, and he does not mind contact. In fact, he seems to invite it. When he sees a gap, he hits it hard. There is no dancing in the backfield with this kid.
His tape doesn't show a ton of route running yet, but he has good open-field awareness and enough speed to keep a defense honest if he breaks into the second level.
Bodies, bodies, bodies
The biggest thing here is simple: Kentucky needed bodies.
I don't mean that to demean Crawford, the kid can play, but we have to be honest about where the roster stands.
When your projected starters are two guys with significant injury histories, you are always one bad practice away from disaster. If Baxter or Barnes goes down, you can't be left staring at an empty room.
Crawford joins a depth chart that includes Jason Patterson, Tovani Mizell, James Dalrymple, and Delvecchio Alston II. He adds another layer of security behind the big names.
He chose Kentucky over offers from Louisville and Kent State, among others. It’s a solid, smart pickup for a staff that knows they need to build a wall around the in-state talent.