Will Levis is back but won’t have top receiver for Kentucky football vs. Mississippi State
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Game day: No. 22 Kentucky 27, No. 16 Mississippi State 17
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Will Levis is set to return to the field for Kentucky football versus Mississippi State, but the Wildcats’ quarterback will be missing his top receiver.
Senior wide receiver Tayvion Robinson (leg) was not dressed out for warmups alongside his teammates before the game. Robinson suffered his injury in the second half last week against South Carolina and did not return.
A transfer from Virginia Tech, Robinson leads Kentucky in catches (25), receiving yards (392) and touchdown catches (three). He topped the 100-yard mark twice in Kentucky’s first six games.
With Robinson out, Kentucky could turn to sophomore Chauncey Magwood, senior Rahsaan Lewis and redshirt freshman Dekel Crowdus at slot receiver. Robinson’s absence likely means a larger share of the targets for freshmen wide receivers Barion Brown and Dane Key, the other two starters at the position, as well. Key, who injured his hand late in the South Carolina game, was warming up without the hard cast he wore during practice this week.
Robinson also serves as Kentucky’s primary punt returner. Brown will likely fill in as the returner against Mississippi State.
The return of Levis should boost a Kentucky offense that found little success without the projected 2023 NFL Draft first-round pick against South Carolina. Levis missed that game with a foot injury but returned to practice without issue this week.
Kentucky’s ability to protect Levis could receive a boost too with normal starting right tackle Jeremy Flax participating in warmups. Flax, who was injured on the final drive of the loss at Ole Miss, also missed the South Carolina game.
Kentucky ranked 129 of 131 teams in the country entering the weekend in sacks allowed.
As announced earlier in the week, Kentucky will be without super senior middle linebacker Jacquez Jones (foot) for the second consecutive week.
This story was originally published October 15, 2022 at 7:09 PM.
