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Some Ranting After an Embarrassing Loss to Missouri

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After two straight wins that gave this season some life and made us fans excited, the Cats took five huge steps back today and ended a five-game win streak as they got completely embarrassed by Missouri, 20-10.

Now, 20-10 doesn’t seems like an embarrassing margin, but it was on paper. The Tigers out-gained Kentucky by 276 yards offensively, got 18 more first-downs than the Cats, and possessed the ball for 43:10 compared to Kentucky’s 16:50. That’s flat out embarrassing. Especially when it’s against a team you have beaten five straight years.

In the past three years, Kentucky has played three games where nothing worked. This one, two years ago against Texas A&M, and two years ago against Missouri. Both games the offense looked horrible and you somehow won one of them.

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Before I really get going, let me point one thing out. Kentucky came into this season with a ton of preseason hype and threw up a clunker to Auburn. After two straight big wins, Kentucky started to earn some more hype and then failed to show up against Missouri.

Keep in mind, this same thing has happened before in the Stoops era. Going all the way back to 2014, Kentucky gained some national hype after starting the season 5-1, with the only loss being an OT thriller in Gainesville. The Cats went to Baton Rouge for a prime-time showdown with LSU, and got their teeth kicked in. Same thing against Texas A&M two years ago. started 5-0, earned some national attention, and then Kentucky looked lost on the field in College Station.

Just thought I’d point that out. Anyway, today’s game was a complete embarrassment all the way around.

It was pretty obvious early on that the offense wasn’t in-sync and wasn’t having any success. Terry Wilson and Joey Gatewood only completed four passes in 13 attempts for 47 yards. However the passing game did produce the only touchdown for the Cats today.

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The running game started to work, especially in the second half with Chris Rodriguez. The offense had been stagnant the whole game, but the Cats started moving the ball when Eddie Gran called Rodriguez’s numbers. After the Cats scored, Kentucky had a chance to tie it up. The biggest possession of the game and Chris Rodriguez didn’t see the field. How does that happen?

It was pretty clear to all of us that Chris Rodriguez was the only thing working today and he only got nine carries. ONLY NINE. Larry Roundtree was killing Kentucky all game and got 37 CARRIES. I honestly have no idea what Eddie Gran is thinking on the sideline. Why does he refuse to play Chris Rodriguez? Especially on the most important possession of the game?

When asked about who the QB will be next week, Stoops said he didn’t know. It’s not rocket science. Just hand the ball to Chris Rodriguez until the other team shows the ability to stop him, because guess what, the only guy that has shown the ability to consistently stop Rodriguez is Eddie Gran.

Benny Snell and Lynn Bowden covered up a lot of the offensive issues the past couple of years and now they are showing. Big time. They have the answer sitting on the sideline in Rodriguez, but refuse to play him.

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It may not be this easy, but if Eddie Gran will just hand the ball off consistently, I swear it will open up the offense and make it easier on Terry Wilson or whoever is back there. It’s called mixing things up. Something Eddie Gran doesn’t know how to do.

If Eddie Gran keeps running this offense into the ground, I don’t know what WR will want to play here.

We are Bubble-screen, QB-draw, and an AJ Rose run for two yards university right now.

Now let’s go get pounded by Georgia.

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Running Back Revamp: Kentucky Adds Former Oklahoma, New Mexico State Transfer

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New Mexico State University Athletics

The Wildcats bolstered their backfield with the addition of former Oklahoma and New Mexico State running back Seth McGowan on April 20, per KSR’s Nick Roush.

Standing at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, McGowan brings size and downhill power to Kentucky’s offense. Coming off a productive season at New Mexico State, he rushed for 823 yards and three touchdowns while adding 23 receptions for 277 yards and three more scores through the air.

A former four-star recruit in the class of 2019, McGowan originally signed with Oklahoma and logged 370 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 201 receiving yards with one touchdown during his lone season with the Sooners.

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On May 7, 2021, McGowan was removed from Oklahoma following his involvement in a legal case in which he was arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The charges were ultimately dismissed, but he pleaded guilty to larceny from a person at nighttime in December of that year.

After a stint at NAIA school Texas College in 2022, where he did not see game action, McGowan continued his path back to Division I football, playing six games with Butler Community College before transferring to New Mexico State for the 2024 season.

Now, with his past behind him, McGowan has a chance to turn the page and contribute in a major way to the Wildcats’ offense.

Running backs coach Jay Boulware, who helped Oklahoma sign McGowan out of high school, likely played a role in bringing him to Kentucky, where he is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining.

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Along with Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell, McGowan could be a part of a versatile and punishing backfield tandem for the Wildcats. While Dowdell brings a physical, downhill rushing style, McGowan’s ability to contribute in both the run and pass game adds a dynamic layer to offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s pro-style system, which emphasizes balance and explosive playmaking.

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Jamon Dumas-Johnson: A NFL Draft Steal

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Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson (2) makes the sign of the cross while taking a knee before the game.
Carter Skaggs | Imagn

Before he transferred to Kentucky, Jamon Dumas-Johnson was an All-American at Georgia, with waves to at least test the NFL draft after winning a National Championship. However, with the decision to play his last collegiate season as a Wildcat, Dumas-Johnson was a cornerstone piece for the Kentucky defense, finishing the season with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during his 11 starts for the team. 

His athleticism spoke volumes at Kentucky football’s NFL pro day, where current NFL draft boards now list the linebacker as one of the best athletes at the position and has earned himself a “top 10” feel ahead of the draft. Before pro day, publications such as Bleacher Report had him listed as No. 13 at his position. 

Dumas-Johnson proved himself with the highest vertical jump (37.5) and the longest broad jump (10.60) out of the Wildcats who competed in said events, and ran an impressive best 4.50 40-yard dash. At 245 pounds, he also managed to press 16 reps of 225, which could technically be “better” compared to NFL standards, but is impressive nonetheless in hindsight.

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At 23 years old, this linebacker exploits explosiveness, agility and can hawk down any playmaker on the field. Out the 31 NFL teams that attended the event (a Cleveland Browns representative did not attend), one will be getting a prize steal of the draft with Dumas-Johnson. 

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Alex Raynor: A Rare Gem In This Year’s NFL Draft

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Kentucky Wildcats place kicker Alex Raynor (16) lines up a kick.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Alex Raynor had an illustrious season for Kentucky last year, being named to First-Team All-SEC, as a finalist for the Lou Groza award and as SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.

As the record holder for the longest field goal in program history, and arguably one of, if not the, most consistent kickers to ever be a Wildcat, Raynor now looks to the NFL Draft in the next chapter of his book. 

Recently, at Kentucky football’s NFL Pro Day on Tuesday, March 11, Raynor kicked off the event with his workout. 

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Although he would miss a routine kick for him inside of the 45, he would continue to move back, nailing a 55-yard kick and nearly making a 60-yard kick. 

The best moments of his workout came when Raynor would line up behind the UK logo inside of Nutter Field House and would nail a 65-yard field goal.

That, although it’s an indoor kick and is not faced with the NFL pressure, would be one of the longest field goals in NFL history. 

Historically, it’s extremely rare for kickers to be drafted any higher than the 6th, more commonly going in the late rounds on the third day. 

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However, Raynor would hold as one of the rare occasions to go higher than projected, due to his historic year as a Wildcat.

Wherever the young man from Georgia ends up in the pros, don’t be surprised if you hear his name every reoccurring Sunday.

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