Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez leads the SEC in rushing and has impressed LSU coach Ed Orgeron. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Running back Chris Rodriguez leads the conference with 612 yards rushing and receiver Wan’Dale Robinson leads the SEC in receiving yards with 467.
“Coach Stoops has done a tremendous job with his team. On offense, they’re pro-style, 29 points per game. They have the leading rusher, they have the leading receiver in the SEC,” Orgeron said.
“They have a great run game. Chris Rodriguez is an outstanding runner. Wan’dale Robinson is very dangerous. (Quarterback Will) Levis is a very capable passer that operates very well in their offense.”
He didn’t back off his praise when it came to the UK defense that has allowed just 23 points total in consecutive wins over South Carolina and Florida in what Stoops called two of UK’s best back-to-back defensive games in his tenure.
“On defense, they’re very stout with a 3-4. They play great technique. They had an outstanding game against Florida. Only 16 points allowed per game. One hundred four yards rushing, very stout,” Orgeron said. “Got some tremendous players on that team.”
One of those “tremendous players” won’t play Saturday. Senior nose guard Marquan McCall hurt his ankle early in the Florida win and is out indefinitely. That means sophomores Justin Rogers and Josiah Hayes will have to play the way they did against Florida when McCall went down. Rogers had three tackles in his best performance at UK and Hayes had two.
“Those two, in particular, played well. We’ve got to get some guys inside around them playing better, but Justin and Josaih played well,” Stoops said Monday. “Josaih got a little dinged up also, nothing major, he’ll be back.
“With him playing so many reps and taking a little shot, he got a little bit ineffective late when he got hurt. He’s got to learn to play through some of that. But overall, those two both did a good job and I was very pleased.”
Kentucky could also get a boost from true freshman Kahlil Saunders. He was one of the six UK players suspended over a March fraternity incident who was finally cleared to practice and play.
“Kahlil got valuable game reps against a quality team. Let’s just say that showed (laughter), but I love him and he’s going to be a good player,” Stoops said. “When you’re thrown into an SEC game like that, with that O-line, he’s got some work to do, but we love his talent.
“I love his energy, I love him personally. I think he’s going to be really good, it’s just really hard to play as a true freshman in there. There were some plays that really popped that he will learn from.”
