Kentucky’s search for help at running back has taken another turn, and this one points to a veteran with a full college résumé.
TJ Harden is now in the mix for the Wildcats after a Louisiana judge granted injunctive relief to 16 players, opening the door for a fifth year of college football. Per On3’s Pete Nakos, Kentucky is one of several schools involved, with Missouri, Kansas, Baylor, and Syracuse also in the hunt.
That pursuit comes at a useful time for Kentucky. The Wildcats had already been trying to add depth to the running back room, and the need only grew after Tovani Mizell suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp.
Harden’s path has taken him from Westwood to Dallas and now, potentially, to Lexington. A three-star recruit in the class of 2022, he drew interest from SEC and Big Ten programs but chose to stay close to home at UCLA. He grew up in Inglewood, roughly 15 minutes from Westwood, and arrived while Chip Kelly was coming off an 8-4 season in his fourth year with the Bruins.
His first seasons in Los Angeles were productive. As a true freshman, Harden played in six games and ran for 111 yards in UCLA’s Sun Bowl win.
He then became part of the regular rotation as a sophomore, making three starts and piling up 827 rushing yards with Dante Moore at quarterback. His biggest day came against USC, when he ripped off a career-high 142 yards on just 22 carries, added a touchdown, and helped UCLA beat its rival 38-20.
The next year brought a major shift for the Bruins. Chip Kelly left as UCLA moved to the Big Ten, and after a five-win season under Deshaun Foster, Harden entered the portal and transferred to SMU. Over three years at UCLA, he finished with 1,658 rushing yards at 5.1 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns.
At SMU, he again became the centerpiece of the ground game. Kevin Jennings handled the passing side, while Harden led the Mustangs with 787 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
One of those scores came in the upset win over Miami. SMU entered its final regular-season game with just one ACC loss, but instead of extending the chaos, the Mustangs fell to Cal.
Harden’s shot at the NFL has not stuck so far. He went undrafted in April, signed with Cleveland, and was one of 12 free agents who took part in rookie mini-camp.
The Browns waived him, and he later landed with Seattle for training camp. In the preseason loss to the Cowboys, he had two carries for one yard before the Seahawks cut him two days later.
What makes Harden especially appealing is that he’s more than a downhill runner. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he brings power between the tackles, but he’s also shown real value as a receiver. During his junior season at UCLA, he caught a pass in every game and finished with 40 receptions for 368 yards, including a 53-yard grab against Penn State.
For his career, Harden has 2,445 rushing yards, 82 catches, 622 receiving yards, and three receiving scores. That works out to about 2.6 receptions per game, and it’s the kind of versatility Kentucky appears to want. Will Stein wants multiple running back sets with players who can contribute out of the backfield, and Harden fits that idea while bringing more proven production than anyone currently in the Wildcats’ running back room.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Ceiling Just Changed Again With Mark Popes Latest Addition
Mark Pope keeps reshaping Kentuckys roster with proven production, and the latest addition might be one of the most important yet. Mark Mitchell, a five-star transfer forward from Missouri, has committed to the Wildcats after landing an injunction for a fifth year of eligibility, giving Kentucky another experienced piece with a track record in the SEC and the kind of all-around game that can fit into a high-end lineup.
Mitchell arrives after a season in which he averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists, earning All-SEC Second Team honors along the way. For Kentucky, the appeal is obvious: he gives Pope a major option at the four-spot and raises the ceiling of a roster that already had plenty of intrigue, even if the final shape of the frontcourt is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Counting On A Homegrown Lineman In A Huge Way
The push to rebuild Kentuckys offensive line this offseason has put a spotlight on one of the rosters homegrown pieces, and Malachi Wood is right in the middle of it. The junior has spent much of his time in Lexington waiting for a bigger opportunity, but after sticking with the program through limited playing time and coaching changes, he has positioned himself to take over as the starting right tackle when the season opens.
For a line that will lean heavily on transfers, Woods presence matters even more. Coaches have been encouraged by his talent and work ethic, and Kentucky is counting on him to provide some continuity next to newcomers, including Baylor transfer Coleton Price at center. If Wood holds down that edge spot, it would give the Wildcats a developed in-house piece they can trust in a unit still coming together. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Landed A Frontcourt Boost With One Huge Catch
Kentucky got an immediate frontcourt addition in Mark Mitchell, the former Duke and Missouri forward who has committed to the Wildcats for this season. Mitchell entered the transfer portal with a do-not-contact tag before making his decision public, and his arrival gives Kentucky another experienced option inside as the roster continues to take shape.
Mitchells situation, though, is far from settled. He received a temporary restraining order from a Kentucky court to pursue a fifth season of college basketball, and his eligibility remains tied to ongoing legal proceedings in a broader NCAA dispute involving former Division I players seeking extra seasons. For Kentucky, the upside is obvious, but so is the uncertainty hanging over the move. [Read more 🡒]