How Kentucky and New Mexico State match up — with a game prediction
How the Kentucky Wildcats (7-3, 5-3 SEC) and the New Mexico State Aggies (1-9 playing as an independent) match up at each position — with a game prediction:
Quarterbacks
▪ Kentucky’s Will Levis (65.6% completion percentage for 2,025 yards with 19 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions) started scalding hot through the air in UK’s 34-17 win at Vanderbilt last week. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound transfer from Penn State completed his first eight pass attempts for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Over the remainder of the game, Levis went 6-of-14 for 33 yards with an interception.
▪ New Mexico State’s Jonah Johnson (58% completions for 2,104 yards with eight TDs vs. seven picks) took a pounding in the Aggies’ 59-3 loss at Alabama last week. The 6-3, 235-pound junior was sacked seven times and “hurried” on four other plays by the Crimson Tide pass rush. Nevertheless, the Madera, Calif., product managed to complete 19 of 30 passes for 129 yards without throwing an interception.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Running backs
▪ Kentucky star Christopher Rodriguez (1,031 rushing yards, seven TDs, 6 yards per carry) has bounced back from a midseason lull. In the victory over Vandy, the 5-11, 224-pound product of McDonough, Ga., ran for 114 yards and a TD in spite of sitting out most of the fourth quarter. Sophomore JuTahn McClain ran with force (69 yards on 10 carries ) at Vanderbilt.
▪ A 5-10, 195-pound redshirt freshman, New Mexico State’s Juwaun Price has run for 485 yards and six TDs while averaging 4.9 yards a carry. A safety valve in Coach Doug Martin’s passing attack, Price has caught 21 passes for 160 yards.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Wide receivers
▪ Kentucky super-senior Josh Ali (30 catches, 389 yards, one TD) will always be remembered in UK football lore for his game-winning touchdown catch to beat Virginia Tech in the 2019 Belk Bowl. Junior slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (77, 886, seven) needs 14 more catches to break James Whalen’s UK single-season receptions record of 90.
▪ New Mexico State ‘X’ receiver Jared Wyatt and ‘Y’ receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda form a productive duo of pass catchers. A graduate student who began his career at Bowling Green, Wyatt leads the Aggies in receptions (42) and receiving yards (486, with two TDs). A transfer from California juco Saddleback College, Garcia-Casaneda has caught 31 passes for 478 yards and leads the Aggies in TD catches (four).
Advantage: Kentucky.
Tight ends
▪ Kentucky super senior Justin Rigg has put together a solid final season in UK blue (15 catches, 140 yards, two TDs). Sophomore Izayah Cummings (13 catches, 180 yards, three TDs) is an emerging weapon. The Male High School product caught a 22-yard touchdown at Vandy.
▪ At 6-4, 250-pounds, New Mexico State’s “Y” receiver, Thomaz Whitford, gives the Aggies’ receiving corps some heft. The Narragansett, R.I., product is also productive; he has 18 catches for 201 yards and a TD.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Offensive linemen
▪ UK senior right tackle Darian Kinnard is winding down a stellar career. “People don’t talk about him enough because he is a dominant player,” UK Coach Mark Stoops said. Super-senior center Luke Fortner has been a “Big Blue Wall” cornerstone. Senior right guard Austin Dotson, an ex-Belfry standout, is also closing out a productive career.
▪ NMSU left tackle Sage Doxtater, a 6-7, 350-pound Canadian, has made 45 career starts. Center Eli Johnson is a graduate transfer from Mississippi who started 12 games for the Rebels in 2019.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Defensive linemen
▪ A team leader and cancer survivor, Kentucky senior end Josh Paschal (45 tackles; team highs of 13 tackles for loss, six QB hurries) is one of the most-respected players to wear the UK uniform. “I have coached a long time and some really good football players and some amazing individuals,” Stoops said. “(Paschal) is, if not number one, it is hard to beat him, as far as a person.” In a boon for the Kentucky defense, senior nose guard Marquan McCall returned in spot duty at Vanderbilt after suffering a “lower-leg injury” vs. Florida.
▪ New Mexico State end Donavan King (7.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks in seven games) made his presence felt at Alabama. The 6-3, 255-pound junior had six tackles, including three TFL, vs. the Crimson Tide.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Linebackers
▪ Kentucky senior WLB DeAndre Square (69 tackles, 8.5 TFL, three sacks) has been a program staple. Senior OLB/rush end Jordan Wright (20 tackles, three TFL, five pass breakups) continues to try to work his way back from an apparent ankle injury. Senior MLB Jacquez Jones (team-high 75 tackles, four pass breakups, one interception) is not on the list of players to be recognized on Senior Day. Might the Ole Miss transfer use his NCAA-granted “free COVID-19 year of eligibility” from 2020 and return to UK in 2022?
▪ New Mexico State SLB Chris Ojoh has recorded 63 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and has forced three fumbles. In NMSU’s loss at Alabama, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound transfer from Eastern Washington had 13 tackles, three TFL, a sack and a forced fumble.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Defensive backs
▪ Kentucky senior free safety Yusuf Corker (62 tackles; 3.5 TFL; team-high eight pass breakups) has been a multi-year standout. “Just physical as heck, very reliable, always working hard,” Stoops said of the McDonough, Ga., product. Nickelback Davonte Robinson, cornerback Cedrick Dort and strong safety Tyrell Ajian, all starters, will also be honored on Senior Day.
▪ New Mexico State has struggled to stop the pass, ranking 125th out of 130 FBS teams in yards allowed (290.9 a game) through the air. Cornerbacks DJ McCullough and Syrus Dumas do have some ball skills, as McCullough has three interceptions, Dumas two.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Special teams
▪ Kentucky senior punter Colin Goodfellow inherited the UK starting job after an injury to Wilson Berry. The walk-on has subsequently been one of the SEC’s best, averaging 47.4 yards a kick. “He is booming some,” Stoops said. Place-kicker Matt Ruffolo (7-of-10 field goals, long of 45) and kickoff returner/kick coverage ace Zach Johnson (18.6 yards a return) are both super-seniors playing their final home game.
▪ NMSU place-kicker Ethan Albertson is 13-of-18 on field goals with a long of 50. Punter Josh Carlson has been busy, kicking 59 times for an average of 41.1 yards a kick.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Prediction
Kentucky 52, New Mexico State 13.
This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 7:47 AM.
