Smoke enters portal
- Thread starter subsonic66
- Start date
I keep forgetting these guys can take an extra year. After that open screen pass he dropped against ole miss they seemed done with him. That extra Covid year they gave people was silly. I mean I get it if the guy chose to sit out in 20 but if they played there’s no sense in having a 6th year.
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Wish him well. I hope he waits to see who the next OC will be. Seems he fell out of favor after the mid-point in the season.
Agree, he isn't the type of back to get the 3rd and short in a stacked box. Therefore, being a change of pace back, good hands are a must. Part of running a pro set IMO, the OC is expecting you to be able to catch that screen when the defense is playing it as a run.
That and I think McClain jumped him in the pecking order of C.o.P. RB
I appreciate Smoke's work at UK but he just isn't SEC level. Seems to be a good guy, good teammate, etc. Maybe he joins Sumrall at Troy?
Best of luck, appreciate what he did, probably don't beat Florida this yr without him
Best of luck to him. Think he could be good at a MAC school, but he isn’t really good enough to be a feature back at a power 5.
In the second half of the year he did not play much, sad to see him leave I think he would have played more next year.
Agree that he’s not a marquee RB, but I appreciate his time and effort here at UK and I wish him the best.
Hope Lavell Wright is ready to step up next year. Wonder if Ramon Jefferson who got hurt in the first game could petition for an extra year if he's interested?
Hope Lavell Wright is ready to step up next year. Wonder if Ramon Jefferson who got hurt in the first game could petition for an extra year if he's interested?
Really McClain jumped him last year. Smoke had that big fumble vs niu when we were running out the half. Then massive drop screen vs ole miss that would've been a TD. Then had a halftime mystery illness and basically never saw him again.
I hate it for him. He must've been a hard worker and good kid because he certainly got tons of opportunities during his time despite never really producing that much. Hopefully he finds a gap scheme because that's what he needs
Good guy. Appreciate his hard work and sacrifices. He came into some tough games for us and had some great games when we needed him. Best of luck to him, hope he finds a great landing spot and the success he deserves.
Thanks for your time at UK, best of luck. Maybe he knows something we don't, really good players on the way in.
I would assume that's what they're banking on, a Trio of Jefferson, McClain and Wright
Well , that’s scary as hell to be honest. Who knows how Jefferson will recover from his injury. Neither McClain nor Wright are “bell cow” backs . They are situational rotation backs with durability issues.I look for Drennen to enter the portal ( has there ever been a bigger bust ). He was supposed to be another Lynn Bowden . We HAVE to get at least one back from the portal, 2 would be great .
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People from his area talk about what a great kid he is. He has mostly been a role player for UK. He isn't a great fit physically for UK, but in an offense that uses their backs out of the backfield in the passing game he could be a very productive back. His speed would make him a tough matchup for mld
aint no way that is the trio this coach who lives by running the ball/controlling the clock is gonna count on for 2023
All time great name, and I appreciate the effort he put forth (maybe not that drop against Ole Miss), but the overall talent just isn't enough for the SEC. Wish him the best.
You are right McClain is better now than Smoke. Hope Smoke finds someplace where he can play.
They should get the extra year regardless. That season was effed. Also, a lot of players got less than a half season. Not fair to count that as a season. But, if the Big Ten guys get a pass because they only played 50%, then the SEC players should get one, too, for 70%, etc.
No question Smoke was best at straight line running. It is every other aspect of the position he lacked.
Breaking tackles, making guys miss, shifting direction, catching out of the backfield, pass protection
Because none of them have the physicality to pick up tough yards in a grind it out football game . Jefferson is coming off a major knee injury and McClain and Wright have been injured for a lot of their time here . You CANNOT have just 3 running backs that weigh about 200lbs to start a football season in the SEC .
Probably beat OM if not for him dropping a screen pass that he could have walked in for a TD. Only had 7 carries after CRod came back. I was actually surprised he didn't leave last year, as the coaches obviously lost confidence in him.
Smoke wasn’t as bad in his career as some of you act but this year was a disappointment. Hope he finishes strong.
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