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Kentucky tailback Heard doubtful for Saturday after breakout performance
By Ethan Levine
Published:
Braylon Heard gave Kentucky fans a taste of the explosiveness he will bring to the Wildcats’ backfield, then disappeared from the offense just as quickly as he’d arrived.
Heard took each of his first two carries as a Wildcat to the house, totaling 116 yards on those two runs against UT Martin last weekend. As he neared the goal line on his second carry, a 43-yard touchdown scamper, he eluded a Skyhawks’ defender with a thrilling hurdle (as seen above), but paid the price on the landing.
Heard tweaked his ankle on the play, forcing him to sit the rest of the game. His teammates had no trouble moving the football without him, totaling 656 yard, 59 points and four more rushing touchdowns without him on the field.
However, Heard’s bum ankle has continued to haunt him since he injured it last Saturday, and it has now put his status for this this Saturday’s contest against the Ohio Bobcats in serious jeopardy.
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops told the media in his press conference Monday he felt there was a “good chance” Heard would be available for the game against Ohio, but he changed his tune in his comments in Wednesday’s SEC coaches’ teleconference.
“He looks very tentative today so I would list him as doubtful,” Stoops said Wednesday.
Heard sat out practice Tuesday, but coaches remained optimistic at the time about his status for Saturday. He remains listed as day-to-day, but if Stoops’ comments are an indicator, he’s unlikely to see the field this weekend.
Heard’s absence will leave more carries for tailbacks Jojo Kemp and Mikel Horton, who combined for 76 yards and three touchdowns in Heard’s absence against UTM. True freshman Boom Williams could also see more time at tailback in addition to his kick return duties.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
