By LARRY VAUGHT
If sophomore punter Grant McKinnis is going to lose a redshirt year because of the one-game suspension of Matt Panton over an alcohol-related arrest, then seems to me McKinnis should be the punter the rest of the year — not just one game.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Monday that Panton, a graduate transfer from Columbia this season, would not play at Vanderbilt Saturday.
“He will not participate for failure to meet the expectations of this football team,” Stoops said.
Panton was charged with public intoxication about 1:30 a.m. Sunday — about five hours after UK’s 37-34 loss to Mississippi.
Panton beat McKinnis for the starting job this season after McKinnis averaged 39.2 yards per punt as a true freshman. He had 10 punts inside the 20-yard line and a career-best 61-yard punt at Alabama.
Panton is averaging 42.7 yards per punt this year and has had 17 of his 48 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, including three at the 1-yard line.
McKinnis, a four-star recruit out of Ohio, would have had three more years to play if he was redshirted this year. That could have solidified UK’s punting for three years if he improved off his freshman season the way everyone expected.
Stoops said it was “unfortunate” he had to use McKinnis and cost him his redshirt year but that the sophomore was willing to do so knowing the importance of the game.
But what was McKinnis going to say? And what college sophomore would not want to help his team?
Kentucky is a 3-point underdog at Vanderbilt in a game UK fans have been counting on as a certain win for months. In a close game, field position and hidden yards really matter. Kentucky needs McKinnis.
Panton made a mistake a lot of college students — and others — make. I know no details of his arrest. However, when it comes time to punt against Georgia, Louisville and in a bowl game, I think UK owes it to McKinnis to let him be the guy for the sacrifice Stoops said he’s willing making this week and not Panton who willing made a mistake to cost him a chance to play in a game.
vBulletin Message