Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum’s role for Kentucky in flux after return, new injury

October 22, 2024

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For the first time this season the Kentucky football team had one of its most hyped transfer portal additions available at Florida.

But running back Chip Trayanum’s return did little to change the fate of a struggling offense.

“It’s hard to take any (positives) because just with a veteran mindset you don’t plan on taking any losses,” Trayanum said after the 48-20 defeat. “And we definitely had high hopes coming into this one.”

Trayanum arrived at UK as the heir apparent to Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis but was sidelined by a hand injury suffered during UK’s first preseason scrimmage. That injury ultimately required two surgeries.

He began his career at Arizona State, averaging 5.4 yards per carry in 13 games across the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Trayanum then transferred to Ohio State, where he initially was slotted in as a linebacker.

Midway through the 2022 season when a rash of injuries hurt Ohio State’s depth at running back, Trayanum moved back to offense. He totaled 465 yards on 100 carries across two seasons in Columbus as the backup to star running back TreVeyon Henderson.

Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum’s role for Kentucky in flux after return, new injury — Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum finally made his Kentucky debut at Florida after missing the first six games of the 2024 season with a hand injury.

There were moments where Trayanum’s potential shined through, though.

Shortly after moving back to running back, Trayanum totaled 83 yards on 14 carries against Michigan toward the end of the 2022 season. He scored the game-winning touchdown in Ohio State’s win against Notre Dame last year.

But with Henderson looking likely to return to Ohio State, Trayanum entered the transfer portal in December in search of a featured role.

He found one at Kentucky, though coaches still said they were likely to use a committee approach in the backfield before his injury.

“The other running backs really are doing a good job, but Chip, he was No. 1 for a reason,” tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow, who recruited Trayanum in high school and in the transfer portal, said when it looked like Trayanum might be available before UK’s bye week.

Trayanum experienced a setback in his rehab that week, delaying his UK debut for another two games.

Even when it became apparent Trayanum would be available for the first time before the Florida game, Stoops cautioned that starter Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and backup Jamarion Wilcox had performed well enough that it was no certainty that Trayanum would return to a featured role.

Trayanum ultimately tallied seven carries for 26 yards in the loss. Four of his seven carries went for 5 yards or more but the numbers were hurt by a 4-yard loss on the second play of the fourth quarter.

“It was good to see him out there,” Stoops said after the game. “I know he’s been frustrated just being hurt. That’s been been tough on him.”

On Monday, Stoops said the film review of Trayanum’s debut indicated he still was not at 100%. The Ohio State transfer also picked up an ankle injury in the game, casting further doubt on his role moving forward.

“It’s hard to keep him healthy right now,” Stoops said on his Monday radio show.

Sumo-Karngbaye did not have his best performance against Florida, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry, but Wilcox totaled 33 yards on just three carries. For the second consecutive game Wilcox had to leave the field because one of his shoes came off, but Stoops reiterated Monday that the offense has to find more opportunities for a player with the big-play potential Wilcox has shown.

Trayanum appears to have at least passed freshman Jason Patterson in the running back pecking order. Patterson opened the season as Sumo-Karngbaye’s top backup but missed multiple games with a hamstring injury. He has appeared in just one game since returning from the injury and can preserve a redshirt season if he does not play in more than one more game during the regular season.

One situation where it appears Trayanum could help is on short-yardage plays given his reputation as a physical runner, but Stoops cautioned the 5-foot-11, 227-pound Akron, Ohio, native might not be ready for those situations yet even if the ankle injury does not cause him to miss more time.

Stoops pointed to the first half red zone situation at Florida when Kentucky failed to score from a first down at the 11-yard line as one example.

“I would like to see him work into that,” Stoops said. “He is coming off two surgeries on one hand. I think that’s a fine line also. If I gave it to him on the 1, I think you’d be asking me why did I give it to him on the 1 if he fumbled. I think that would be a fair criticism. I think that is something that we have to balance and make sure he can do.”

UK coaches have heaped praise on Trayanum for his professionalism and work ethic since he arrived on campus in January.

For a team needing leadership after back-to-back losses and needing wins in three of its final five games to extend an eight-year bowl streak, a healthy Trayanum could at least provide another steadying influence.

But if the Wildcats are to salvage a bowl trip this season, they will likely need more from one of their top portal additions at some point.

“I feel like I could definitely take on more (leadership),” Trayanum said. “It was kind of hard to just try to be that vocal guy, not really in there. So definitely, that’s a goal of mine.”