UK coach Joker Phillips says in order to win in the Southeastern Conference, teams must be able to run the football effectively.

His Wildcats have to run the ball well to win against any opponent.

Take Louisville, for instance. In the past 13 games in this matchup, the team with the most rushing yards has won.

UK has depth at running back. Josh Clemons started as a freshman, before a season-ending knee injury sent him to the sidelines. Raymond Sanders has started four games in his career with the Cats. Walk-on CoShik Williams was the starter by the end of last year.

Throw in a couple of heralded freshmen and the Cats seem loaded in the backfield.

“Going into SEC games, you’ve got to have healthy backs,” said Clemons. “A lot of guys you can rotate out and other guys who can step in and do just as good as the guy before them. So it’s important that you come into a game with healthy backs and more than one.”

Clemons has been cleared to play this fall.

Phillips knows it’s important to have added depth.

“In this league, you very seldom see a back last 12 games,” he said.
Kentucky opens its season on Sept. 2 at Louisville.