Sept. 15, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky sophomore tailback Raymond Sanders will miss the next two to three games for the Wildcats, including the Louisville game this weekend, because of a knee injury suffered in Kentucky’s win over Central Michigan last weekend, UK head coach Joker Phillips announced after practice Thursday.
Phillips said Sanders suffered the injury, which is a cartilage issue in his knee, during a kickoff return against Central Michigan last Saturday. Phillips said Sanders had arthroscopic surgery Thursday morning and everything went well.
“Raymond had surgery this morning and should be back in two to three weeks,” Phillips said. “It is a slight cartilage (injury). The surgery went well this morning. He went in at 6 a.m. and was down by 7:30 a.m. He will miss this game and should only be out two to three weeks.”
Sanders, a native of Stone Mountain, Ga., has started both games for Kentucky this year, sitting second on the team in rushing with 21 rushes for 97 yards. He has seen a good amount of playing time in his two years at Kentucky, playing in 14 games with three starts.
Although it will be hard to replace Sanders’ experience in the backfield, Phillips said the game must go on and his team understands that.
“The game keeps moving,” Phillips said. “The game doesn’t stop … We have to keep the game moving and Raymond understands that and our football team understands that. Now, another back has to step up. You have to take advantage of the opportunity and that is what we have been talking about is taking advantage of opportunity. We will give them an opportunity and see how they do.”
Phillips said that true freshman tailback Josh Clemons is scheduled to start in Sanders place. Other options during the game are junior CoShik Williams, sophomore Jonathan George and redshirt freshman Brandon Gainer.
“Josh will start and it will give us an opportunity to get to see the other backs,” Phillips said. “We have been wanting to get them in the game and now we have to get them in the game.”
Kentucky will wrap up this week’s practice Friday with a brief walk-through. The Wildcats play host to the Cardinals Saturday at 7 p.m.
