Florida football: Five ways the Gators can tame the Kentucky Wildcats

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Gervon Dexter #9 of the Florida Gators takes the field before the start of a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

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Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez, Jr. (24) runs for a touchdown after shedding a tackle from Iowa defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg (97) during a NCAA college football game in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.Syndication Hawkcentral /

Florida football: Keep Chris Rodriguez on the bench

The Gators don’t have control over this one. Chris Rodriguez is Kentucky’s star running back that was arrested in May for DUI. He was suspended indefinitely by the university.

As of this week, it is still not 100% clear if Rodriguez will still be suspended for the game against Florida. When asked about it, Wildcats’ head coach Mark Stoops has said it’s “Out of my hands.”

Kentucky is a much better team with Rodriguez than without. Combined with other injuries at running back, Kavosiey Smoke is the only running back of note for the Wildcats that is for sure going to play against Florida.

Smoke is a nice player, but he’s not built to be a feature back and he’s most effective when he has a bruising back like Rodriguez to soften up the defense first.

If Rodriguez is suspended for the game, Kentucky turns into a one-dimensional offense that Florida should be capable of stopping.

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