Kentucky football is officially operating a bubble wrap protocol in the offensive backfield this Spring.
Following the departure of Seth McGowan, who anchored the rushing attack last season with 725 yards and 12 touchdowns, Will Stein is facing a massive rebuild at the running back position. The Wildcats have picked up some good talent, bringing in Texas transfer CJ Baxter and Oklahoma transfer Jovantae Barnes.
When healthy, Baxter and Barnes can be game-changers. Both can easily execute Stein's desire for a balanced, physical offense. The problem they also both share? Staying healthy has been nearly impossible for both of them.
And based on how the coaching staff is handling them this spring, Will Stein knows he is playing a very dangerous game of medical roulette.
The bubble wrap protocol
During Saturday's scrimmage, both Baxter and Barnes were strictly held out of contact scenarios. Stein isn't hiding the reasoning behind this decision. He knows they both have a checkered injury history, and he wants them to be healthy when the games actually start to count.
"Those guys are excellent football players," Stein explained. "I just know what they've been through in their past, and it's my job... to get those guys to the fall... I've been cognizant of making sure that they are playing for us come September 5th."
That past trauma Stein is referring to is extensive:
CJ Baxter missed the entire 2024 season after tearing his LCL and PCL in his right knee during fall camp, followed by a subsequent hamstring injury in late 2025. He is a former 5-star high school recruit, but the injuries have not allowed him to shine like a lot of people thought he would.
Jovantae Barnes has dealt with persistent, season-altering foot and ankle issues throughout both his 2023 and 2025 campaigns. Like Baxter, the pedigree is there, but the production is limited because of injuries.
And that is a scary place to be. Just ask Mark Pope.
A terrifying parallel for the Big Blue Nation
For Kentucky fans, betting the success of a season on the medical charts of high-profile transfers was a losing proposition last fall.
Mark Pope and the basketball program took a massive medical gamble on Jayden Quaintance's reconstructed knee. The staff knew the risks, rolled the dice, and watched the entire season collapse when Quaintance only managed to play four games before being shut down.
If Baxter and Barnes both suffer a setback, which history says can happen, the offense will have to feature a mix of returning players who haven't had a ton of time to shine.
The converted defensive back insurance policy
Because the injury risk at the top of the depth chart is very real, the staff has found a unique way to provide some backup. Martels Carter Jr.
Carter, who played defensive back and wide receiver in high school, has been taking significant reps at running back this spring, alongside Jason Patterson. Stein has been absolutely raving about Carter's natural ability with the ball in his hands.
"I put on his high school tape... I mean, he was a two-way player and he was really good and you saw him catching interceptions in high school and almost turning into a kick return," Stein noted, calling him a natural ball carrier. "I believe he's got a bright future on offense and running the football."
When asked directly if the staff simply has to find a way to get Carter on the field, Stein didn't hesitate: "100 percent."
Relying on Baxter and Barnes is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that will define a large part of Kentucky's season. If the medical gamble pays off, the Wildcats have an elite SEC backfield.
But if it backfires, Will Stein is going to be handing the football to a converted defensive back and holding his breath.