The Kentucky football team went on the road in the SEC and got another big win over South Carolina on Saturday. They fell behind 17-0, but once again, didn't panic, and slowly worked their way back. In the end, in overtime, Will Stein made the call to try and win it with a two-point conversion, and it worked. The Cats walked away with a 35-34 victory.
It was an up-and-down day for most of the Kentucky roster. In the first half, they looked uncomfortable and out-matched. The defense, as it has at times this season, keyed the comeback by forcing a turnover.
Offensively, Kentucky took some time to get going, but in the second half, they played like an elite group. The running game wasn't as effective as in other games, but made some timely plays,
while the passing game heated up, and ended up being the deciding factor in the closing moments.
So, after week five, whose stock is up for the Wildcats? Whose is down? Here's a look at things after a thrilling win against the Gamecocks.
Stock up - Nic Anderson
Anderson came to Lexington with expectations. He had nearly 800 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns just a few years ago, but injuries have hampered him. However, he got off to a slow start this year, with just a few catches here and there. On Saturday, he broke out with 5 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. If he keeps it up, the wide receiver unit is much more dangerous.
Stock down - Pass rush
To be fair, LaNorris Sellers isn't the kind of quarterback that is easy to bring down, and they let him slip through their grasp more than once. Tackling, Sellers in particular, was an issue all game long, and their failure to hold their lanes, letting Sellers escape up the middle, was a problem.
Stock up - Lance Heard
Over the past few weeks, Heard has gotten a lot of attention nationally for his play. On Saturday, he captured the attention of everyone with another great game, including a highlight reel play where he pancaked two different defenders on one run. He is working his way into first round conversation for the 2027 NFL draft.
Stock down - First quarter play
Once again, Kentucky got out to a slow start in the game. This time, it bled into the second quarter, leading to a 17-0 deficit. The comeback was exciting, but they can't keep falling behind as they face good teams. They have to find a way to get the offense going earlier in games.
Stock up - Kenny Minchey
It's feels kind of obvious to point out, since Minchey has been good all season. However, on Saturday, playing from behind, he hit another gear. He was calm in the pocket, despite having been hit several times. He ran when he needed to, and was clutch in the biggest moments of the game.
Stock down - The AP voters
Last week, Kentucky came in at No. 24 in the AP Top 25 after beating South Alabama. This week, they went on the road to get an SEC win as an underdog, and they dropped back out of the top 25. Some voters dropped the Cats as many as 5 spots, which left a lot of people scratching their heads. They did jump up in the US LBM Coaches Poll into the top 25.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Stock up/stock down for Kentucky after beating South Carolina
