GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Kentucky’s defensive front will face a challenge from Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams. Williams is the No. 2 rusher in the SEC with 582 yards and a 6.1-per carry average. With LBs Josh Allen, Kash Daniel, and Jordan Jones leading the way, the Wildcats have held opponents to an average of just 110.4 yards per game rushing. Daniel, however, will miss the first half after being penalized for targeting in the second half of last week’s win over South Carolina.
DRAFT SLANT
–RB Benny Snell Jr. missed a fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season by a yard after netting 99 yards on 28 carries against South Carolina. Snell was in triple digits in wins over Central Michigan, Florida, and Mississippi State but carried only 15 times for 75 yards in the rout of Murray State. A junior, Snell has rushed for 3,063 yards in his career and will comfortably surpass school record-holder Sonny Collins’ 3,835 at his current pace.
ROSTER REPORT:
–LB Kash Daniel will sit out the first half this week after being ejected for targeting in the third quarter of the win over South Carolina. “I support the call. I have to, because again the way the rule reads and I didn’t even question it at all,” coach Mark Stoops said. “If it’s called on the field and they review it, if there is any contact at all with the facemask, then it’s going to be a penalty and so I support the call.”
–RB Sihiem King will not play the rest of the year and take a redshirt season. The senior was No. 3 on the depth chart behind Benny Snell Jr. and A.J. Rose after logging just 12 rushes for 58 yards in the first four games. King had not taken a redshirt season his first three years on campus and is eligible for one because of the new NCAA rule that allows a player to appear in up to four games without it costing him a year’s eligibility.
–LT Naasir Watkins, who started the opener, banged up his knee and Stoops expects the redshirt freshman to be out “for several weeks” Freshman Darian Kinnard likely will take Watkins’ spot.
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