A Brand New Backfield
This past Friday Kentucky had media day, a time where the staff gets everyone hyped for 2024. Unfortunately for Mark Stoops and the Cats, it was overshadowed by the NCAA announcing the school was put on two years probation. If there is a silver lining there’s no bowl ban for UK. That means full steam ahead for this season. To get you ready we’re going position by position looking at the team. Our first one featured the quarterbacks and new signal-caller Brock Vandagriff. Much like the quarterbacks Kentucky’s got almost an entirely new backfield. Let’s take a look at who’s vying for playing time with our 2024 Kentucky Position Preview: Running Backs.
Who’s Gone From Last Year
The biggest departure from 2023 is Ray Davis. In his one season at Kentucky Davis set a school record with 21 total touchdowns, 14 rushing, and seven receiving. His 126 total points put him second in the SEC and sixth in the nation. Furthermore, he finished fourth in the league with 1,129 yards on the ground. Davis went to Buffalo with pick number 128 in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Several other players are gone from last year. Ramon Jefferson signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay. In the process, he’s reunited with his old offensive coordinator Liam Coen. He ran for 184 yards. In addition, JuThan McClain and La’Vell Wright entered the transfer portal. Wright missed all of last season due to injury while McClain added 138 yards.
As we continue with our 2024 Kentucky Position Preview: Running Backs let’s look at the players who’ll be carrying the load for the Cats.
Finally A Lead Back
For a second straight year, the Wildcats hit the transfer portal looking for help. Chip Trayanum left Ohio State for Kentucky. A former four-star recruit from Akron, Ohio Trayanum originally signed with Arizona State coming out of high school. In two years with the Sun Devils, he ran for 692 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Before the 2022 season, Trayanum transferred back home to Columbus, as a linebacker. However, that didn’t last long and he was back at running back pretty quickly.
Serving as the primary backup to TreVeyon Henderson, Trayanum rushed for 383 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. One score in particular was a huge one for the Buckeyes. Trailing Notre Dame late in the fourth quarter and with Henderson ailing with an injury Trayanum took it in from one yard out giving OSU a three-point win.
He’s never been the featured back but told reporters at media day he’s ready to carry the load. In addition, Trayanum explained the reason he chose Kentucky was due to the tradition of great running backs. UK’s had a 1,000-yard rusher in six of the last eight years and wants to make it seven of nine.
An Expanded Role
Demie Sumo-Karnbaye followed Devin Leary from North Carolina State to Kentucky last year. He ended up splitting time at running back and wide receiver. Demie ran for 139 yards and a touchdown and added 14 receptions for 69 yards and another score. He starts the spring as the backup to Trayanum and should see a much bigger role in 2024.
Behind Tryanum and Sumo-Karnbaye there’s not a lot of experience at the position. As we continue with our 2024 Kentucky Position Preview: Running Backs let’s look at the rest of the room.
Pushing For Playing Time
Behind Trayanum and Demie the Wildcats have three other players looking to break through. One of them is incoming freshman Jason Patterson. Hailing from Florida Patterson ran for over 3,800 yards and 50 touchdowns over the last two years. He got an early start on his college career as an early enrollee. Patterson drew high praise from the staff in the spring. In fact, he ran some with the first team.
Two other candidates are redshirt freshman Jamarion Wilcox and freshman Tovani Mizell, another Florida native, in the 2024 class. Wilcox didn’t have any carries last year but the staff is high on his potential.
Final Thoughts
Kentucky goes into 2024 with Trayanum as the number one back with Demie as an RB2 who adds versatility. However, the name generating the most buzz is Patterson. Obviously, it’s early but some want to compare him to Benny Snell, who came in as a freshman and took over the leading role. New offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s had a thousand-yard rusher in each of his three years as a play caller. Best case scenario Trayanum becomes the school’s next thousand-yard rusher and Patterson is the man for 2025.
On the other side of the ball, the Cats’ top two backs have never been the main man which has to worry the BBN just a little. Furthermore, they missed out on several other high-profile running back transfers. It will all play out soon as we are less than four weeks away from the season opener against Southern Mississippi.
Thanks for checking out of 2024 Kentucky Position Preview: Running Backs here at Last Word On College Football. Next time out it’s the wide receivers and tight ends.
