By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky’s brightest offensive performer early last season was freshman running back Josh Clemons — and then he tore his meniscus in game six at South Carolina and had the knee injury end his season.
He was leading the team with 279 yards rushing and both of his touchdowns were game-winning plays, a 14-yard run against Western Kentucky and 87-yarder against Central Michigan. That 87-yard run was the longest by a UK player since 1979.
Clemons established himself as a legitimate threat when he ran for 69 yards against LSU, which used its defense to reach the national title game.
“(Trainer) Jim (Madeleno) thinks he will be ready for training camp. He will be one of those guys that goes two days, off a day, then goes two more days, then off,” Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said during the Southeastern Conference Media Days. “We are just hoping that everything that goes well for him because he is such a good kid and such a good player for us. He is one of the leaders of this football team and we need him on the field for us.”
If Clemons is not 100 percent early in the season, Phillips says the coaching staff might have to at least consider redshirting him rather than having him available for only part of the year.
“That is in the back of our mind that we will have to consider if he is not ready, but we and Jim think he will have a chance to be ready for us,” Phillips said.
One reason Phillips might even be able to consider a redshirt for Clemons if he’s not ready early is the depth the Cats have at running back.
Junior Raymond Sanders is healthy and has rushed for 409 yards. Senior CoShik Williams led the team with 486 yards and three scores last season after injuries to Clemons and Sanders gave him a chance to play.
“We have four running backs (Clemons, Raymond Sanders, CoShik Williams, Jonathan George) who have already played and are bringing in two quality backs (Dyshawn Mobley, Justin Taylor),” Phillips said. “Now we are going to have two 220-pound running backs (Mobley, Taylor) in the program.
“This is a grown man’s league. If you have 185-, 190-pound backs, it takes five or six of them to get through a season. Now we have bigger backs. That gives us a chance to have guys who can play every down. Dyshawn Mobley dead lifted 630 pounds three times. That is pretty dang good for a freshman coming in who has not been in the program but for a few weeks.
“Again, the quarterback position and the running back position I think will be the two positions that will have the most competition. Mobley and Taylor add quality depth to a position that already has some experience.”
5 Responses to Joker Phillips believes RB Josh Clemons will be ready for training camp, but RB depth could make coach ponder redshirt season if Clemons isn’t ready
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Just my desires, but I would love to see Joker go with his two 220lbs. freshmen backs right off the bat, since he already knows what the smaller backs can do…besides, these two heavy weights will in all likelihood not stay the full four years and he simply has to win at least 2 SEC games NOW to probably hold his job. Make no mistake about it too, Joker has to fill the stands and no better way then to give the fans some hope that his recruiting plan has borne some results. Sprinkle Clemons and the rest of the scat backs in there for the long situations and leave most of the pounding to our new guys. I know they have not even played a down, but the physical stats on Mobley are so incredible and you know Taylor is really good by just watching his high lite clips and the fact that the Tide really coveted him…I just want to see these two wall bangers on the field soooo badly-Gooooo Cats!
Larry, do you know what the chances are that Taylor could be ready to play this year? I just assumed he would be rshirting to get healthy. Is there any chance he plays?
I’ve had high hopes for Clemons since before he committed, and it will be very dissapointing to me if he has to sit out a year. I think he flat has what it takes, and want to see him get the chance to prove it! Ifhowever, Clemons, has to rs, I see no way that Mobely won’t have to play.
There is no way Sanders, Williams and George can shoulder the burden alone and make a big enough impact for us to be competitive. Sanders is not fast enough, and goes down at first contact. Co Shik did step up and play well last year, but he just doesn’t have the talent we need to make a big impact. I like George’s size alight, but he hasn’t shown me the ability to step out and be a star at this point.
We need big backs, and we need em’ now! I can’t wait until we have Clemons, Mobely, and Taylor all healthy and ready to go at the same time! How nice it would be for UK to actually have a power running game again, w/ depth to boot!
Coaches seem to think Taylor will be full-go for practice. Agree, need at least four to make it through the season
Keep in mind Sanders was trying to play through some tough injuries so we really didn’t get to see what he could do if he had been 100%. All these guys run hard and I too am looking forward to seeing them. I think we have enough depth now to let Clemons and Taylor heal and regain confidence. No question it will be a plus if they are both healthy. Regaining their confidence is the next step.
Sanders is healthy and can’t wait to get going