By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Kentucky could be without one of its top running backs when the Wildcats take on neighboring Eastern Kentucky University Saturday.
Sophomore Stanley “Boom” Williams didn’t practice Tuesday and is dealing with outside issues. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Williams remains a member of the team while “going through some personal things.”
“We’re going to keep that between Boom and I,” Stoops said Tuesday. “It has nothing to do with him quitting the team or anything like that — nothing.”
Stoops, who said Williams remains on the team, wasn’t sure if Williams will play against the Colonels and took a wait and see approach.
“He’s going through a personal issue and we’re here to help him any way we can,” Stoops said. “When he gets some things resolved and situated, he’ll be back out there. Until then, we’ll support him in any way we can. The other guys will step up and compete.”
Stoops added that he doesn’t expect the absence of Williams to have an affect on his team the remainder of the week.
“That’s another great improvement by this team, that anything the outside world would perceive as a distraction, in here, things move on,” Stoops said. “I don’t think it will be a distraction.”
Through four games, Williams, the seventh-leading rusher in the Southeastern Conference (343), had a season-low 21 yards in Kentucky’s 21-13 win over Missouri last week. He had 80 yards in the team’s 14-9 loss to Florida on Sept. 19. He rushed for more than 100 yards in Kentucky’s first two games, including 135 in the season opener.
Williams wasn’t available for comment Tuesday because of an athletic policy that prevents players who moved down the depth chart from being made available to the media. Williams was listed second behind JoJo Kemp when the depth chart was released Monday.
The absence of Williams in the backfield would give JoJo Kemp more carries this week. Kemp collected 66 yards on 13 carries last week. Mikel Horton also will see more time behind Kemp.
“Hopefully guys will step up like they did last Saturday,” Stoops said.
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports reporter who covers UK sports for the NKyTribune