Benny Snell doesn’t mind waiting his turn. The Kentucky running back also doesn’t flinch when his number is called on any given play.
Snell isn’t looking ahead to make an impact and the future is now for the freshman running back, who has given Kentucky a boost in the backfield this season.
“I bring all I can,” he said. “I bring all I got. This offense, I’m just glad to be a part of it. I just bring all I got.”
The emergence of Snell has forced offensive coordinator Eddie Gran to tweak his game plan, while his sudden climb up the depth chart led to veteran runner Mikel Horton’s departure.
Seeking a boost after opening the season with two straight losses, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops inserted Snell into the lineup in a 62-42 win over New Mexico State. Snell responded, rushing for a career-high 136 yards and four touchdowns. In four games, Snell has rushed for 341 yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
“You have to give him a lot of credit,” Stoops said. “I really have a lot of confidence in him and, for being a true freshman, it’s amazing, but you love that. he’s what we thought he was going to be, but it just is a little faster than maybe you anticipated. But that hard nosed, great balance, tough runner, tough mindset, tough attitude, no BS about him. He’s here to work, win football games and get better, and I love that.”
In Kentucky’s 20-13 win over Vanderbilt last weekend, Snell carried the ball a career-high 20 times and collected 94 yards. He had 44 yards in the fourth quarter that enabled the Wildcats to milk the clock and use a late field goal to keep Vandy in desperation mode during the closing minutes.
“Benny is just phenomenal,” Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson said. “That dude gets first downs no matter what. I love handing the ball off to him and seeing him work.”
Used primarily as a second-half back, Snell made an earlier appearance against the Commodores, providing a neutralizer for veterans Stanley “Boom” Williams and JoJo Kemp.
“The game plan didn’t change,” he said. “My number was called at that time and I had to make the most of it. I was glad to get in (during) the first half.”
In addition to his hard, physical runs, Snell has a knack for using creativity to gain an extra yard and turned heads with a nifty spin move in the second half of last week’s win over Vandy.
“It’s all about the big bounce, I just try to fall forward and not backward,” he said. “That’s what I try to do. They were aggressive and can make plays, but our offense can, too. Coming into it, we just knew (we could run the football).”
Since he’s been a regular in the rotation, the Wildcats have compiled a 3-1 mark and Snell said the overall team chemistry has improved since the beginning of the season.
“We’re growing,” he said. “We’re getting better throughout the season and with every game. We’ve got something going right now. I’m glad this (is happening).”
In moving forward, Snell said the Wildcats have to stay the course and not get sidetracked. Following a bye week, the Wildcats have six games remaining, including two against teams (Tennessee and Louisville) ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
“We just have to keep it going,” he said. “We’re coming out to play (and if we) stay the course, we can beat teams and go to the top.”
Nearly one semester into his collegiate career, Snell isn’t feeling left out and feels at home in the backfield.
“I trust all those guys on the line blocking for me,” he said. “I trust JoJo (Kemp), Stephen (Johnson), all of those guys. They’re like family.”
Game tracker: Mississippi State at Kentucky, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. TV/Radio: SEC Network, 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter