Best Kentucky Running Backs of All-Time

Taking a look at the five best running backs in the history of Kentucky Wildcats football.

The University of Kentucky, while not being the best football school in the country, does have a long history of running the ball and having extremely talented running backs. This isn’t just a recent thing either. It goes all the way back to the 1960’s and they have had at least one great running back for every decade.

Over the years, there have been a number of running backs from Kentucky go on to be good NFL players. Before that, they were great college players who were among the best at their postition.

From guys like Roger Bird and Sonny Collins all the way up to Benny Snell and Chris Rodriguez, the Wildcats have had come of the better running backs in the country for a long time. Making a list of the best isn’t easy, but here is one opinion of the top five running backs in the history of the University of Kentucky football.

Browns bring in Kenyan Drake, Benny Snell, 4 others in for tryouts

The Browns had 6 in for tryouts on Friday.

The Cleveland Browns are now just over 24 hours away from their Week 8 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. However, due to injuries in the running back room, we have seen them add three ball carriers to their practice squad this week. One of those running backs was the familiar face of John Kelly Jr. He was one of six players in for a tryout today with the Browns, joined by other running backs Kenyan Drake and Benny Snell.

Kelly Jr. has been on the practice squad for the past two seasons and was with the team during training camp this summer as well. They also brought back Nate McCrary and Jordan Wilkins to the practice squad as well, two other players who were on the training camp roster.

Here is the full list of players, six in total, that the Browns had in for a tryout on Friday. Again, this is something they do weekly as players begin to exhaust their three call-ups from the practice squad, and as injuries always have to be compensated for.

Ex-Steelers RB Benny Snell could join AFC North rival

Benny Snell has been on the free-agent market since August.

Ever since All-Pro running back Nick Chubb went down with a season-ending injury in September, the Cleveland Browns have been hunting for depth. Today, that running back was a name familiar to Pittsburgh Steelers fans.

Per the NFL transaction wire, Benny Snell, selected by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft, worked out with Cleveland.

In four seasons, he played 63 games (five starts), rushing for 982 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the team’s primary backup until Jaylen Warren firmly took hold of that role.

After going unsigned by Pittsburgh this season, the Detroit Lions picked him up, only to release him on cutdown day. He’s been a free agent since.

Snell was always solid on special teams and pass-blocking and could be a nice depth piece for Cleveland.

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Top available free agent running backs for the Lions to consider

Top available free agent running backs for the Lions to consider with the injuries piling up at RB

The Detroit Lions running back room looked like a strength for the team entering the season. While the position group has performed well thus far, injuries have become an issue for the team.

David Montgomery has been the bellcow for Detroit’s offense, taking 94 carries over five games. He is now slated to miss some time due to a rib injury suffered in the game against Tampa Bay.

Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs has also missed some time due to injury. If he is to return soon, he should be the featured back for the Lions.

The only other running back on the active roster is Craig Reynolds, who has been serviceable in a backup role. Zonovan Knight is likely spending the rest of the season on injured reserve and Devine Ozigbo is sitting ready on the practice squad.

At this point in the season, there are not many free agent options available to choose from. Here are five players who could be brought in to help provide depth at running back for Detroit:

12 players projected to make the Lions practice squad

These 12 players from the Lions’ final preseason game roster should make the team’s 16-man practice squad

One of the first orders of business for the Detroit Lions following the conclusion of the roster cutdowns and initial waiver claim period is to form the 16-man practice squad. Teams can start signing players to the practice squad after Wednesday, August 30th at 12 p.m. ET.

Most teams prefer to stock the practice squad with players who were on the roster for the final preseason game. The Lions did that last year and are expected to do so once again.

Here are 12 Lions expected to be cut by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline who should make the practice squad.

Breaking down the battle for the Lions RB depth

Breaking down the battle for the Detroit Lions reserve RB spots behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs

David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are both new to Detroit this season, but they already look like an excellent running back tandem. The Lions duo should be one of the NFL’s best and most versatile.

After the top two RBs, well…

The picture behind Montgomery and Gibbs has blurred in the last couple of weeks. Injuries to Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson and the unexpected retirement of Justin Jackson have really opened up the competition. Or, as head coach Dan Campbell said before Monday’s practice session,

“…nothing is solidified in that third role or fourth for that matter. I mean there’s – we’re going to take the best players and so, our eyes are open. We – (Lions GM)) Brad (Holmes) and I were discussing it, I mean we’re – you want a job, go get it.”

Campbell made sure to emphasize that the competition doesn’t have nearly as much to do with running the ball as it does special teams.

“We’re looking for a third back and it all starts with special teams, man. If they can help us there, then we’re figure out the offensive side of it,” Campbell stated.

Here are the guys trying to go get those jobs and where they stand entering the second week of preseason.

Justin Jackson’s unexpected retirement forces the Lions to make a move at RB

Justin Jackson’s unexpected retirement forces the Lions to make a move at RB and return man

One week ago, Justin Jackson met with the media after a Detroit Lions practice. The veteran running back and return man had just re-signed with the team and was seemingly excited about the chance to roll with a second season in Detroit.

That plan abruptly changed. Jackson was placed on the reserve/retired list on Thursday morning, apparently calling it a career at 27 years of age. The Northwestern grad was getting most of the third-team RB reps and was the clubhouse leader to win the kick return competition as late as Wednesday’s joint practice session with the New York Giants.

Jackson hasn’t publicly commented yet on the motivation for his surprising decision. There wasn’t any inkling of dissatisfaction or career alteration with Jackson last week, either on or off the record.

The Lions signed free agent Benny Snell to replace Jackson. Snell comes to Detroit after four seasons in Pittsburgh. His role with the Steelers diminished each season, with Snell gaining just 91 yards on 20 carries in 2022. Snell did return three kickoffs for Pittsburgh last season, and that could very well be his ticket to making an impression on Detroit and taking over Jackson’s old role on special teams.

Lions officially sign QB Teddy Bridgewater in flurry of roster moves

The Detroit Lions officially sign QB Teddy Bridgewater and RB Benny Snell in a series of roster moves

The suspense over Teddy Bridgewater is now complete. The veteran QB has officially signed with the Detroit Lions.

Bridgewater’s signing was one of a few roster moves announced by the Lions on Thursday morning. Detroit also signed free agent RB Benny Snell, while also placing running back Justin Jackson on the reserve/retired list. The Lions also waived offensive lineman Logan Stenberg, a move that was previously reported.

Bridgewater will immediately step into the backup QB competition with Nate Sudfeld and Adrian Martinez. He is not expected to play against the New York Giants in the preseason opener on Friday night.

Jackson’s apparent retirement is a surprising development. He had just recently re-signed with the team and was working as the first-team kick returner, a role he also held in 2022.

7 players the Panthers worked out last Friday

Here are the seven players who the Panthers worked out at the end of last week:

On Friday, the Carolina Panthers got back to Spartanburg and back to working out some fresh faces—seven, to be exact.

Ultimately, they ended up signing one of those players, cornerback Mac McCain. But, for the sake of record keeping, here’s the entire group the Panthers had eyes on last week:

Colts held tryout for trio of RBs

The Colts held a workout for a trio of RBs on Wednesday.

The Indianapolis Colts held a tryout for three free-agent running backs Wednesday: Kenyan Drake, Benny Snell and Devine Ozigbo.

After Zack Moss suffered a broken arm and with Jonathan Taylor currently on the PUP list, the Colts have been leaning on a backfield committee.

Considering Moss is expected to be out at least until Week 1 of the regular season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Colts add some veteran depth to the backfield.

Drake has always been an intriguing running back considering his 4.45 speed, while Snell has provided depth in the past with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ozigbo has intriguing size at 225 pounds but has averaged 2.1 yards per carry for his career.

We’ll see if anything comes of these workouts, but the Colts are likely to continue tweaking the backfield.