Before Saturday’s kickoff, Jovantae Barnes and CJ Baxter were going to be a two-headed monster at running back for the Kentucky Wildcats.
However, both are often injured. Baxter missed the entire 2024 season and nearly half of the 2025 season. Barnes has now missed 12 games in his last 3 seasons in college after missing the game against Youngstown State. And Will Stein wasn’t super enthusiastic when asked about his running back room after Barnes was declared out.
“I feel okay. I don’t feel great, I don’t feel bad…CJ’s
had a really good last three weeks. He’s out there practicing every single rep. I think Jason Patterson has gotten significantly better from when we first got him, especially within our scheme.”
He has to feel better after the performance Baxter and Patterson put on Saturday.
Baxter scored the first two touchdowns of the Will Stein era, putting Kentucky up 14-0 within 10 minutes, but Jason Patterson was not to be outshone.
Patterson would finish the day with 78 yards on 11 carries to go with one reception for 16 yards.
While Baxter has the pedigree and didn’t play bad at all, it may be time to let Patterson handle the bulk of the carries and use Baxter as the spellback, instead of vice versa. Though Martels Carter Jr. also looked great coming in during the 4th quarter.
Here’s how the backfield distribution played out in Game 1:
- CJ Baxter: 9 rushes, 48 yards, 2 TDs
- Jason Patterson: 11 rushes, 78 yards, 1 catch, 16 yards
- Martels Carter: 5 rushes, 32 yards
Will Stein may not have been happy with his running backs heading into the week, but he will definitely feel better heading into Alabama.
