Kentucky football running back Ramon Jefferson out for remainder of season with torn ACL
Kentucky football running back Ramon Jefferson's 2022 season is over.
Jefferson, an FCS transfer from Sam Houston State, tore the ACL in one of his knees during the Wildcats' season-opening win against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 3, the Bronx, New York, native announced Wednesday in an Instagram post.
The 5-foot-10 tailback, whom starting QB Will Levis dubbed "a little Mighty Mouse," logged just two carries for 10 yards during the first quarter against the RedHawks. After Jefferson's second carry, a gain of 2 yards, he did not return to the game.
Jefferson, a senior, 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.
"Moving forward I’ll take my rehab one day at a time to make sure I recover and come back stronger mentally and physically," Jefferson wrote in the caption of his Instagram post. 'God doesn’t give His toughest battles to His toughest soldiers, He creates the toughest soldier out of life's hardest battles.'"
Ramon Jefferson:New York state of mind gives UK football running back confidence to compete in SEC
Kentucky football 2022-23 guide:Everything you need to know about players, schedule, analysis
First-year offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello on Tuesday called Jefferson's injury "really unfortunate."
"I have yet to be anywhere where I've gotten through a season without having (running) back injuries," Scangarello said. "It's just the nature of the position, the physicality of what we ask guys to do. You got to be ready for it. Next man up, and the cool thing is we built a deep room for this reason."
With Chris Rodriguez sidelined for the season opener, Jefferson was the Wildcats' RB2 behind senior Kavosiey Smoke. After head coach Mark Stoops provided no updates Monday on Rodriguez's status heading into Saturday's matchup at Florida, UK will have to rely on Smoke, junior Mike Drennen and redshirt freshman 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 its 37-13 win over the RedHawks. After the game, Scangarello said the Wildcats conceded to an extent in their ground attack with Miami stacking the box, holding back on designed runs for Levis.
Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ramon Jefferson has torn ACL, out for rest of UK football season
