Kentucky football running back Ramon Jefferson’s 2022 season is over.
Jefferson, an FCS transfer from Sam Houston State, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees during the Wildcats’ season-opening win against Miami, Ohio on Sept. 3, the Bronx, New York, native announced. York on Wednesday in an Instagram post.
The 5-foot-10 running back, dubbed “a mighty little mouse” by quarterback Will Levis, recorded just two carries for 10 yards during the first quarter against the RedHawks. After Jefferson’s second carry, a 2-yard gain, he did not return to the game.
A senior, Jefferson was using the extra year of eligibility granted in 2020 to student-athletes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The running back could apply for a hardship waiver through the NCAA to gain another year of eligibility, but it was unclear as of Wednesday if he intends to do so.
“Going forward, I will take my rehab one day at a time to ensure I recover and come back stronger mentally and physically,” Jefferson wrote in the caption of his Instagram post. ‘God does not give his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers, He creates the toughest soldier from the toughest battles of life’ “.
Ramon Jefferson:New York mood gives UK soccer running back confidence to compete in SEC
Kentucky Football Guide 2022-23:Everything you need to know about players, calendar, analysis
First-year offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello called Jefferson’s injury “really unfortunate.”
“I’ve yet to be somewhere where I’ve gone a season without a back injury,” Scangarello said. “It’s just the nature of the position, the physicality of what we’re asking guys to do. You have to be ready for that. The next guy, and the good thing is that we built a deep room for this reason.”
With Chris Rodriguez sidelined for the season opener, Jefferson was the Wildcats’ RB2 behind Kavosiey Smoke. After head coach Mark Stoops failed to provide updates Monday on Rodriguez’s status ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Florida, the UK will have to rely on Smoke, junior Mike Drennen and freshman from red shirt La’Vell Wright in The Swamp.
Junior JuTahn McClain, who also suffered an injury against Miami (Ohio), is “week to week,” Stoops said.
Without Rodriguez in the backfield, Kentucky rushed for just 50 yards on 26 carries behind an inexperienced offensive line during their 37-13 win over the RedHawks. After the game, Scangarello said the Wildcats relented to some extent in their running game with Miami stacking the box, slowing down runs designed for Levis.
Contact sportswriter Brooks Holton about recruiting and trends at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.