Chris Rodriguez never worried about not being a fit in Liam Coen’s offense

Chris Rodriguez is second nationally in rushing yards going into today's game. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Chris Rodriguez made a national name for himself during the 2020 college football season and was regarded as one of the top running backs in the Southeastern Conference going into this season. He ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game (87.2) last season and led UK with 785 yards and 11 touchdowns that included four 100-yard games.

However, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops fired offensive Eddie Gran — the coach who gave the ball to Rodriguez — after the 2020 season and brought in Liam Coen from the NFL to build a more diversified offense. Coen recruited Will Levis to run the offense because of his passing skills and receiver Wan’Dale Robinson also came via transfer to give UK a big-play receiver.

Was Rodriguez ever worried about might not be featured in this year’s offense?

“No. He was at the Rams. I used to watch (All-Pro running back) Todd Gurley all the time,” said Rodriguez. “When he (Coen) came in, I was ready for it.”

He has been more than ready. He ran for a career-high 206 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries in last week’s 35-28 win over Missouri and even had a 5-yard touchdown catch, the first scoring reception in his career.

After two games he’s second nationally in rushing yards (331) and total touchdowns (5). He now has 21 rushing touchdowns and has scored a rushing touchdown in five straight games — one short of Benny Snell’s school record — going into today’s game against Central Michigan.

Yet it was the scoring pass that had Rodriguez almost giddy after the game. He had one catch for two years in 2019 and one catch for 12 yards in 2020. He had two catches for 10 yards in UK’s win over ULM but the 5-yard reception against Missouri was his first touchdown catches.

“I was excited about that. I knew I could do it,” Rodriguez said. “It felt really good when we put that play in. We did run and it and I was like, ‘Please let me get the ball.’ I seen in happening. It came to me and I was ready and you saw the outcome.”

Rodriguez insisted he didn’t “campaign” for the ball to be thrown to him but said first-year UK running backs coach John Settle told him to be ready this season to catch more balls.

“I worked all summer and fall. (Quarterback) Will (Levis) knows I can catch the ball out of the backfield,” the UK junior running back said.

Stoops says Rodriguez is the type of player any program needs.

“They understand. It’s not about any of us in — you know, any individual. It’s for the greater cause,” Stoops said. “And, he understands that. Hey, we lean on him. We need him.”

Rodriguez wants to keep leaning on Kentucky fans to help him be the “beast” that Stoops and Coen want him to be. He liked the fan support at Kroger Field last week, something that was missing during the COVID 2020 season.

“The crowd was going crazy. They stuck with us whole game. I liked it,” Rodriguez said. “First time for me that to have it that loud and that packed when I was playing. I can’t wait for it to happen again.”

Some speculated that Rodriguez might not return for the 2021 season but opt to take his chances in the NFL. Rodriguez never seriously considered that option for personal reasons.

“I didn’t feel like I was completely ready for the NFL. I still had more to prove on the field but I also told my mom I would finish college,” he said.

He said the last time anyone from his family even graduated from high school was an aunt in the 1980s. He would be the first in his family to graduate from college and that’s important to him. He doesn’t want to leave UK without his degree and then try to go back to finish his education.

“I have younger cousins, nieces, and nephews that look up to me,” Rodriguez said. “I have got to make it my job to finish (his education) so there is somebody to look up to in the family.”