Photo by Keyli Chisesi | Go Big Blue Country
The new redshirt rule in college football is one of the most beneficial rules for college coaches and student athletes.
A player, who has not yet redshirted in his career, can appear in four games and still elect for a redshirt year. Kentucky is taking advantage of that rule with multiple players this season, including freshman kicker Chance Poore.
Poore, a native of Anderson, South Carolina, is yet to appear in a game for the Wildcats this season but he almost got the call in an overtime loss at Texas A&M. With the Wildcats facing 4th down and a 43-yard field goal attempt in the first overtime, Poore was walking onto the field to attempt the field goal. However, Mark Stoops elected to send senior Miles Butler in for the attempt that fell less than a yard short.
Kentucky, ranked 14th in the AP and 17th in the Coaches Poll, has six games remaining in the 2018 regular season, including four key SEC matchups. The Wildcats host Vanderbilt and then travel to Missouri before what is setting up to be a showdown vs. Georgia at Kroger Field on Saturday, November 3rd. Stoops knows there is an opportunity for Poore to get his chance over the next six weeks.
Even though there are six games remaining, there’s a possibility that Kentucky plays eight games. Kentucky will most certainly earn a bowl bid and if things go in their favor, they have an opportunity to play for the SEC Championship on Saturday, December 1st. Stoops will pick his spots to play Poore over the final two months.
Fans have wanted Stoops to give Poore a shot, but the UK head coach has handled the kicking situation perfectly to this point. No doubt, he will take advantage of the rule and still redshirt him after the season, the beneficial move for both sides.
