The Snell Watch: Tracking Benny Snell’s pursuit of UK’s all-time rushing record

Kentucky Wildcats junior running back Benny Snell entered the 2018 season needing to rush for 1,412 yards to pass Sonny Collins (3,835 yards from 1972-75) as UK’s all-time leading rusher.

Over a 12-game schedule, Snell entered the season needing to average 117.7 yards a game to break the record. If UK advances to a bowl game, Snell would need to average 108.7 yards a game on a 13-game slate to break Collins’ record.

Throughout the Kentucky season, we are going to track Snell’s progress toward the record.

Game Four: Snell ran 25 times for 165 yards against Mississippi State.

Game Three: Snell ran 15 times for 75 yards against Murray State

Game Two: Snell ran 27 times for 175 yards at Florida

Game One: Snell ran 20 times for 125 yards against Central Michigan

For the season: Snell has run for 540 yards, and with 2,964 career yards has now passed Mark Higgs (2,892) for fourth on UK’s all-time rushing list. Next up on the list is Rafael Little (2,996).

Needed to break the record: 872 yards. That is an average of 109 yards in the eight remaining games of the regular season or 96.9 if UK earns a postseason bowl trip.

Mark Story: (859) 231-3230; Twitter: @markcstory

This story was originally published September 22, 2018 at 10:24 PM.