Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

Coach Joker Phillips announced today that running back CoShik Williams’ career with the Kentucky Wildcatsis over. Williams, a former walk-on who worked his way to a starting position with the Kentucky offense, has a torn labrum in his hip. An MRI revealed the fifth-year senior’s injury. Williams had rushed 14 times for 66 yards during limited action this season.

Productive throughout his junior season with the Wildcats, Williams rushed 118 times for 486 yards and three touchdowns after gaining more touches out of the Kentucky backfield after some of his teammates suffered injuries in 2011. He rushed for nearly 500 yards in nine games last season. The Georgia native, after becoming a starting tailback late in his junior campaign, entered his senior season with high hopes.

In a win over Charleston Southern in 2010, during his sophomore season, Williams rushed 13 times for 95 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first Kentucky player to rush for three touchdowns in a single game since Randall Cobb did so in 2008 versus the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Kentucky football program received a blow earlier in the week when it lost sophomore starting quarterback Maxwell Smith, a promising new offensive leader, indefinitely. Smith underwent ankle surgery and may be lost for the season. Talented young freshmen Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles will now share duties at quarterback for the Wildcats.

Juniors Raymond Sanders and Jonathan George and true freshman Dyshawn Mobley have taken the majority of rush attempts out of the Kentucky backfield. Sanders leads Kentucky in rushing with 240 yards via 40 carries. George has gained 182 yards on 35 carries for the Wildcats.

Kentucky will host the undefeated Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday.