Kentucky’s first game under Will Stein is already carrying one notable absence in the backfield.
At his week one press conference, Stein said Oklahoma transfer running back Jovantae Barnes is not expected to be available for the opener against Youngstown State.
"He's on a really, I think, good path back," Stein said. "To have him back, not this game, but in the very near future."
Barnes had already been working his way through a delayed ramp-up after an injury that Stein said happened during spring ball. Stein didn’t get into the specifics, but he did say the setback was unfortunate.
"He's had some stuff happen throughout his career," Stein said. "And something happened earlier in our spring ball and it was obviously unfortunate."
Barnes arrived in Lexington with a track record Kentucky believed could bolster the top end of its running back room. Before transferring, he played in 31 games with 10 starts at Oklahoma, piling up 294 carries for 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He also added 28 catches for 188 yards and another score. His resume includes three 100-yard games and one 200-yard game.
The early signs in Kentucky haven’t been ideal. Barnes was limited in the spring, stayed limited through the summer, and remained on the sidelines through fall camp. That makes him unavailable for the Sept. 5 opener, even as the staff continues to keep him engaged in walkthroughs and up to speed on expectations in the offense for whenever he gets cleared.
His absence leaves Kentucky leaning more heavily on the rest of the group, and Stein said he’s encouraged by what he’s seen from the players around Barnes.
"I feel okay, I don't feel great, I don't feel bad," Stein said. "I think CJ's had a really good last three weeks, he's out there practicing every single rep and I think Jason Patterson has gotten significantly better from when we first got him, especially within our scheme.
Martels Carter 's come along too. But, for the most part, I would say I feel okay."
Barnes redshirted at Oklahoma last season after appearing in the Sooners’ first four games against Illinois State, Michigan, Temple and Auburn. Kentucky had brought him in through the portal to be one of the key pieces in the room alongside Texas transfer CJ Baxter Jr.
Kentucky opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Youngstown State at Kroger Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network+, and the game will be a white out.
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