UK football stock watch: Jamarion Wilcox looks like a potential stud for the Wildcats

The weekly Kentucky football stock watch takes a look at who is rising and who is falling for the Wildcats after a 41-6 win against Ohio.

STOCK UP: Jamarion Wilcox

Starting running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye had another productive afternoon with 47 yards and two rushing touchdowns, but it was his backup who stole the show against Ohio.

Wilcox, playing in just his third game as Wildcat, totaled eight carries for 82 yards. On the season, the redshirt freshman is averaging 7 yards a carry on 19 carries.

“You’ve heard me say many times that I believe in his talent,” UK coach Mark Stoops said of Wilcox. “He is a very good player. We are leaning on him to be consistent on and off the field. Do things right, be on time to meetings and little things. Know all of the protection.

“As he gets more snaps, he will be more engaged and he’ll get better with opportunities, as far as all the little nuances to the offense and the protection and things of that nature.”

Wilcox was a consistent target of praise from coaches throughout preseason camp. At one point, Stoops even compared him to former Wildcat Boom Williams, perhaps the most electric playmaking running back in Stoops’ tenure.

Still, Wilcox entered the season third on the depth chart behind Sumo-Karngbaye and freshman Jason Patterson. He likely would have been fourth on that list if Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum had not been sidelined by a hand injury during camp.

Wilcox recorded just two carries in the season opener, then did not touch the ball against South Carolina. With Patterson sidelined by an injury, Wilcox recorded nine carries for 43 yards against then No. 1-ranked Georgia. During his breakout performance against Ohio, Wilcox showed a promising ability to make tacklers miss and gain extra yards.

“As far as running the ball, he’s tough as nails,” Stoops said. “A week ago — you guys probably don’t even see it but he’s on kickoff running people over on the kickoff team getting to the football as a running back. He has the toughness, last week and this week just the way he runs it.

“He’s been very efficient and tough and trying to be more accountable in all ways.”

STOCK UP: Aidan Laros

For the first time this season, UT Martin transfer Aidan Laros, who has served as the Wildcats’ kickoff specialist, assumed punting duties against Ohio.

It was something of a surprise when Stoops named incumbent Wilson Berry the starting punter before the opener given Berry’s inconsistency to date in his UK career and struggles to match the distance many of the top punters in the SEC provide. Laros led all FCS punters in average yards per punt (47.3) and ranked ninth in net punting (40.8 yards per punt) last season.

While coaches acknowledged Laros had the stronger leg, Stoops said Berry was more consistent during camp. But after multiple short punts limited Kentucky’s ability to play the field position game against Georgia, Stoops apparently saw enough to make a change.

“We just have been working Aidan, and I think I told you we were getting closer and closer,” Stoops said. “We will continue to work, and he hit that one pretty good.”

Laros only punted once against Ohio, but he booted that kick 58 yards. The only problem with the play was Kentucky did not have the “sky” coverage on that would direct the gunners to follow the ball rather than run to the returner because they did not anticipate Laros would strike it as cleanly as he did.

With no UK players in the area to down it, the ball bounced into the end zone for a touchback.

STOCK DOWN: Offensive penalties

One of the most frustrating parts of Kentucky’s performance in the loss to South Carolina was the number of penalties that hindered the offense’s ability to build any positive momentum.

After being flagged for seven penalties against South Carolina, the offense appeared to make progress in that area with just two penalties against Georgia. But the miscues were back against Ohio with five offensive penalties for 40 yards.

Two of the penalties came before the snap. Four were holding flags, casting more doubt about the offensive line’s ability to hold up in pass protection.

“There’s still a way to go,” offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said.

One hold negated a 33-yard pass from Brock Vandagriff to Dane Key. Two more came on back-to-back plays that forced Kentucky into a first-and-30 situation that the offense still managed to turn into a first down.

“I thought a couple of those weren’t great calls, but that’s me,” Stoops said, noting he wanted the offense to keep throwing the ball even after the outcome was decided to give the line more reps in pass protection. “At the time you feel like, it’s really sloppy. After watching it on the iPad, I have to defend (right tackle Gerald Mincey) a little bit on that. And overall, we know there is improvement to be made. We were trying to just work on that thing.”

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