Kentucky Football: Can Wildcats build on historic 2018 season?

LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 01: Mark Stoops the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats watches the action against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Commonwealth Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 01: Mark Stoops the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats watches the action against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Commonwealth Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Lynn Bowden Jr. #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats returns a punt 56 yards for a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first quarter of the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Lynn Bowden Jr. #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats returns a punt 56 yards for a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first quarter of the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Replacing Benny Snell will be crucial for the offense

It’s hard to think of a Kentucky Wildcats offense without Benny Snell Jr. Not only was he their leading rusher and third leading receiver, Snell was the Kentucky Wildcats. He was the heart and soul of that program. He was the engine of the Wildcat train. You can’t talk about what the offense — and the program for that matter — without talking about replacing the leader that Snell was.

So, what exactly will the Wildcats’ offense look like?

They return two important pieces from last year’s offense: quarterback Terry Wilson and leading receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. What made Bowden Jr. dangerous was Snell. Who was the threat that forces offenses to give Bowden one-on-one matchups? It was Snell.

Wilson was the Wildcats’ second leading rusher last year, and they didn’t have a running back other than Snell with at least 100 carries. However, they do have talent.

Asim Rose will be the bell cow of what will be a young group of running backs led by  Kavosiey Smoke and Christopher Rodriguez.

The line wasn’t full of stars last season, but it was solid. It will be that way again, and the Wildcats get former five-star recruit Landon Young back from a knee injury.