Josh Clemons’ Injury Will Hurt Kentucky Wildcats’ Running Attack


Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY SPORTS

The Kentucky Wildcats figure to have depth at the running back position in 2013, but an announcement made on Friday could affect that situation.

The university said that Josh Clemons injured his leg on Friday during workouts. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but an MRI is scheduled for Monday to find out more.

Clemons, a 5-foot-11, 212-pound redshirt sophomore, missed all of last season while recovering from a knee injury he suffered during his freshman campaign. It is not known at this time which leg Clemons injured.

As a freshman in 2011, Clemons showed flashes of brilliance during his limited action. He was leading the team in rushing with 279 yards when he went down with the knee problem. Among those yards was an 87-yard touchdown scamper against Central Michigan, which is the longest touchdown in Commonwealth Stadium history.

Clemons also showed he could gain ground against tough competition, gaining 69 yards rushing against the LSU Tigers.

If Clemons is injured, the Wildcats will still have three good running backs in the stable. Senior Raymond Sanders is the likely starter at tailback. Sanders led the team in rushing last season with 669 yards and five touchdowns. He also figures to be a good receiver out of the backfield in Kentucky’s “Air Raid” offense.

Another senior, Jonathan George, will also be in the mix at tailback. George was second on last season’s team with 504 yards rushing and four touchdowns. He is another back that can catch the ball out of the backfield, as he caught 21 passes for 223 yards last season.

Sophomore Dyshawn Mobley will also get some carries from the tailback spot. Last season, Mobley rushed for 184 yards in limited action.

While those three players are certainly capable, head coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Neal Brown would love to have a healthy Clemons at their disposal. If this injury turns out to be significant, it’s a definite blow to the UK running game.

Be sure to check out the Rant Sports 100 in 100 Series, a preview of the top 100 College Football Teams for the 2013 Season!



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