Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
Sophomore running back Benny Snell Jr. has taken his performance to another level the last two weeks. The UK sophomore rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-34 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday, the second most rushing yards ever for a UK player vs. the Rebels.
Snell, a native of Westerville, OH., has found his rhythm as of late, posting his second consecutive game of 176+ yards, making him the only player in school history to achieve that number in consecutive games. Snell’s three touchdowns made him the first UK running back since Moe Williams in 1995 to have consecutive games with three rushing touchdowns, as he also totaled three in a 29-26 victory vs. Tennessee.
In addition to his three touchdowns vs. the Volunteers a week ago, he also rushed for 180 yards, the most ever for a UK player vs. the Volunteers.
The 5-11, 223lb Snell is quickly approaching his second consecutive season of 1,000 yards rushing. The two-game total of 356 yards brings him to 897 rushing yards on the season to go along with 12 touchdowns. The 356 combined yards vs. Tennessee and Ole Miss is the highest two-game total for a UK player since Artose Pinner combined for 367 vs. LSU and Vanderbilt in 2002.
Snell is quickly closing in on the UK rushing touchdown record for a career. Through 20 career games, he has a total of 25 rushing touchdowns, needing just one to tie Moe Williams and Sonny Collins for most all-time at 26. With his recent performances, you have to think he breaks the record this Saturday at Vanderbilt.
The UK sophomore has surpassed the century mark five times this season, making him the first player in school history to achieve that feat in back-to-back seasons.
Snell and the Wildcats will look to put Ole Miss in the rearview and focus on a road trip to Vanderbilt this Saturday. Kentucky and Vanderbilt are set to kickoff at 4:00 ET/3:00 CT and the game will be available on the SEC Network.
