Grading the running backs in 2015
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Cats Illustrated continues its season review of Kentucky football position-by-position. Up next: running backs.
The good
The good news at running back was Jojo Kemp's reemergence. His role in the offense diminished significantly in 2014 after he rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns in a come from behind win against South Carolina. Kemp bounced back this year and rushed for 555 yards on 98 attempts and scored six touchdowns.
His best performance of the season came in a 165 yard, three touchdown game against Charlotte on Nov. 21.
Boom Williams also built on an impressive freshman season and put together a solid sophomore season. He opened 2015 with a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage against Louisiana Lafayette. Williams rushed for a team-leading 855 yards on 121 carries and scored six touchdowns on the season.
Mikel Horton did some good things as well. He had 318 yards on 82 carries with three touchdowns on the season. Freshman Sihiem King showed potential in limited carries.
The bad
Williams was suspended against Eastern Kentucky in the middle of the season. While a reason was never given, it certainly was a distraction that week and Williams was sorely missed as the Wildcats nearly lost to the Colonels.
Williams, Kemp, Horton and King will all be back next season. Three-star Ohio natives Asim Rose and Benny Snell join the fold next season to provide much needed depth to the position.
What to watch going forward
As mentioned above, all four of the running backs from this season will be back for another go around next year. Kemp will be a senior and emerged as the leader of the group, but Williams has the big play ability that is unrivaled on the team. Horton could emerge as a leader as well during the offseason. In a season where Williams averaged 7.1 yards per carry and Kemp averaged 5. 7, Horton only averaged 3.9 so he's a little behind those two at this point. Rose and Snell will have a chance to crack the rotation, but one of the two or perhaps both will have a chance to redshirt.
The running back position is arguably the most solid position group going into next season.
Season grade: B
The team was successful running the ball for much of the season. Williams is among the elite in the country at producing big plays and Kemp fought back after a somewhat disappointing sophomore season. The running backs produced more often than not and was the best offensive unit as a whole this season.
