Kentucky's 3-5 record means the Wildcats can no longer afford to be stubborn with personnel. The "we have to keep doing what we're doing" mentality needs to stop, and the players who are actually making plays need to be on the field. After the Auburn game, it's clear who is rising up the depth chart and who is fading.
Here are three players who should see their snap counts increase, and three who should see theirs reduced.
Kentucky football snap count risers and fallers
RISER: WR Cameron Miller
Miller has been making plays in limited action all season, but his game-saving hustle play against Auburn should have cemented his spot in the rotation. After a Cutter Boley interception that was headed for a pick-six, Miller tracked down the defender and stripped the ball, which Kentucky recovered. That kind of effort simply cannot be kept off the field, especially in a receiver room that has struggled with consistency. It's time to see what he can do, even if it means burning his redshirt.
RISER: WR J.J. Hester
The receiver room needs a jolt. Hester, a big-bodied (6'4", 200+ lbs) target, has been almost invisible this season, with just 4 catches for 23 yards. However, two of those catches have gone for touchdowns, both in the Tennessee game. Kentucky has been anemic in the red zone. Hester is a proven red zone threat who can win 50/50 balls. It's time to give him a real chance to make a difference.
RISER: RB Jason Patterson
Dante Dowdell is not the answer in Kentucky's current blocking scheme. He is averaging just 3 yards per carry in SEC play and is not a threat in the passing game. Patterson, meanwhile, brings a different kind of energy. He's a "herky-jerky" runner with better vision and explosiveness. He is a bigger threat to break a long run and is a more natural pass-catcher out of the backfield. It's time to stop forcing the square peg (Dowdell) into the round hole.
FALLER: WR Hardley Gilmore IV
Getting Gilmore back was a massive portal win, but his return to Kentucky has been unproductive so far. In his last two games, he has just 7 yards on 4 catches. With Cam Miller and J.J. Hester deserving more looks, Gilmore's snaps should be the first to be redistributed until he shows more consistency.
FALLER: RB Dante Dowdell
As mentioned, it's just not working. Dowdell is a big, bruising back, but Kentucky's offensive line is blocking for a zone scheme that requires quick cuts, not a power runner. The fit is just not there right now. Continuing to give him key carries (like the goal-line attempts vs. Texas) is coaching malpractice.
FALLER: DL Josiah Hayes
Mark Stoops already confirmed this one himself. After being outplayed by backups against Auburn's struggling offensive line, Stoops was asked about the veteran. His response was blunt: "We've moved past him at this point. Just guys playing better than him." Expect his snaps to go to Austin Ramsey and others.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion