Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky Football: Tyler Rogers Could Hurt The Wildcats

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Kentucky football program may need to adjust its scouting report on New Mexico State Aggies quarterback Tyler Rogers.

If the first two weeks have proven anything about the Kentucky football team, it’s that Mark Stoops’ crew can’t defend the run. Against both the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and Florida Gators, Kentucky looked lost on defense.

The upcoming clash with the New Mexico State Aggies projects to provide Kentucky with necessary relief, but it may not be that easy.

Tyler Rogers has been the source of New Mexico State’s offensive production thus far in 2016. He ran for 63 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, and threw two touchdowns with an additional 21 rushing yards in Week 2.

Per Jon Hale of The Courier-Journal, Jason Groves of Las Cruces Sun-News sees a change in the way Rogers takes care of the ball.

What he has done this year is take better care of the football. He threw 22 interceptions two years ago and just three in four games last year and has yet to throw a pick. Rather than force a ball he may have two years ago, he has extended plays with his feet and that’s where some of those yards have come from.

That’s a critical development, to say the least.

Two years ago, Rogers threw 19 touchdowns to 23 interceptions. In 2015, he had seven passing touchdowns in four games, but also threw three interceptions.

Thus far in 2016, he’s yet to throw a single pick—something that Kentucky’s vaunted cornerbacks will look to change.

The fact that Rogers has 84 rushing yards through two weeks is concerning for the Wildcats. Kentucky has allowed at least 200 rushing yards in each of the first two games of the 2016 season—both of which were losses.

After allowing 262 rushing yards against Southern Miss, the Wildcats let up 244 rushing yards against Florida.

Kentucky could have its hands full with Rogers, who has improved his decision making and knows how to make plays with his legs.