Kentucky football lands recruit who could be Wildcats’ next great running back
A new challenger in the competition to replace Chris Rodriguez has entered the ring for Kentucky football.
Four-star running back Jamarion Wilcox, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards with 30 total touchdowns as a senior at South Paulding High School in Georgia, announced his commitment to the Wildcats’ 2023 recruiting class Friday. Wilcox picked UK over finalists Auburn, Clemson and Ohio State.
After Wilcox announced his commitment Friday evening, UK confirmed he had already signed a National Letter of Intent with the program. The early signing period closed in Decmeber, meaning UK chose to keep Wilcox’s commitment silent until he announced it publicly.
“We are very excited to sign Jamarion,” UK Coach Mark Stoops said in a news release. “He has the speed, strength and acceleration to make a big impact in this league. He’s a home-run back.”
Wilcox is now the highest-rated commitment in UK’s 2023 class, according to Rivals.com. He is the highest-rated running back in Rivals’ rankings to pledge to the Wildcats since Boom Williams in the high school class of 2014.
“I think he’s kind of a back who can do it all,” South Paulding Coach Eric “Sumo” Robinson told the Herald-Leader before Wilcox’s announcement Friday. “Runs the ball well between the tackles, has the speed to hit the edge, is a tough kid and also willing to stick his nose in there on pass protection. I think you’re pretty much getting the best back in the state of Georgia coming out this year in 2023.”
Wilcox arrives at a moment of transition for the Kentucky rushing attack.
Rodriguez, who ranks third on UK’s career rushing yards list, declared for the NFL Draft after the regular-season finale.
JuTahn McClain, Rodriguez’s primary backup this season, is set to return for his senior year. The Wildcats added former Vanderbilt running back Ray Davis, who rushed for 1,042 yards in 12 games this season, as a transfer.
Redshirt freshman La’Vell Wright will look to break into the rotation this spring. Former Sam Houston State transfer Ramon Jefferson could also factor in the competition if the NCAA grants his waiver request for an additional season of eligibility after he suffered a season-ending knee injury on Kentucky’s season-opening drive.
Despite the presence of multiple veterans in the running back room, it will be difficult for Kentucky coaches to keep Wilcox off the field if he lives up to his recruiting hype.
“I think he can contribute from day one,” Robinson said. “The biggest thing about it is will the strength translate, (before) having that year in the weight room? But he’s one of our top lifters. … He’s ready, and I think his body is ready for it.”
At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Wilcox would immediately be one of the bigger running backs on Kentucky’s roster. Only Wright, listed at 6-foot and 217 pounds on UK’s roster, can best his size.
“I like big guys,” new UK running backs coach Jay Boulware said in December. “I like guys that can obviously take a pounding. I say big, but I’m talking physical.
“I want some speed to be able to finish the run. That home run threat. I was watching the Georgia game, and I kept thinking to myself, man, if a running back just breaks one, that’s all it’s going to take.
Kentucky’s rushing attack has thrived in recent years with the type of power back that can bust through tacklers and gain extra yards. Rodriguez and former Wildcat Benny Snell were among the most productive running backs in the Southeastern Conference during their careers thanks to a physical rushing style.
It would be unfair to expect Wilcox to turn into Rodriguez or Snell immediately, but Robinson is confident Wilcox will relish contact in the same way the former Kentucky stars did.
“I think he can do it all, but I think the big thing about him is he’s the guy that can kind of break the game open,” he said. “Those 10-15 yards that Rodriguez was able to get between the tackles, I think a lot of those he’ll be able to take to the crib.”
Do that, and Wilcox might have a chance to follow in the footsteps of Barion Brown, Dane Key and Deone Walker in making an immediate impact for Kentucky as a freshman.
“Whoever runs and executes and gains yards and breaks tackles will be the guy in that room,” offensive coordinator Liam Coen said at his introductory news conference Thursday. “That’s who it’s going to be. Then if it has to be a little bit more by committee, that’s something we’ll have to do as well. I’m excited about some of the guys in that room, but somebody needs to emerge and take it over.
“… We’ll definitely miss being able to hand the football off and say I know we’re going to gain 4 yards. That was not scheme. That was (Rodriguez) a lot of the time. So, really excited about being able to see what these guys can do, and ultimately the best player is going to go out and play regardless of year. Whoever you are, the best player is going to be the running back for us.”
This story was originally published January 13, 2023 at 7:13 PM.