Jovantae Barnes

#2 · RB · 5th-year · Kentucky6′0″ · 211 lb · Las Vegas, NV · Desert Pines

Rushing yards224250th of 279 running backsLast gameW 34–17vs Vanderbilt · Oct 24
Nextat TennesseeSat Nov 7 · 6:15 pm ET
224 rushing yards in 6 games; their best was 100 vs South Alabama.
Game 1: against Youngstown State, win 45-13, no carries in this game, FCS opponentWYSUFCSGame 2: against Alabama, loss 17-45, -2 rushing yards0LALAGame 3: at Texas A&M, win 31-21, no carries in this gameWTA&M@Game 4: against South Alabama, win 45-21, 100 rushing yards, 1 touchdown100WUSAGame 5: at South Carolina, win 35-34, 28 rushing yards28WSC@Game 6: against LSU, win 35-34, 14 rushing yards14WLSUGame 7: at Oklahoma, win 21-13, 16 rushing yards16WOU@Game 8: against Vanderbilt, win 34-17, 68 rushing yards68WVANSeason high
Game 1: against Youngstown State, win 45-13, no carries in this game, FCS opponentWYSUFCSGame 2: against Alabama, loss 17-45, -2 rushing yardsLALAGame 3: at Texas A&M, win 31-21, no carries in this gameWTA&M@Game 4: against South Alabama, win 45-21, 100 rushing yards, 1 touchdown100WUSAGame 5: at South Carolina, win 35-34, 28 rushing yardsWSC@Game 6: against LSU, win 35-34, 14 rushing yardsWLSUGame 7: at Oklahoma, win 21-13, 16 rushing yardsWOU@Game 8: against Vanderbilt, win 34-17, 68 rushing yards68WVANSeason high
  • touchdown

Vanderbilt · W 34-17

15 carries, 68 yards

The other 5 games average 31 yards. This one was 37 above.

Open this game

Barnes has carries in 6 of Kentucky’s 8 games: none against Youngstown State and Texas A&M.

Dashed line: 100 yards.

This week

What’s being said

4 stories in the last 60 days, from 4 outlets.

Sep 25 to Oct 1: 2L 17-45 vs AlabamaLW 31-21 at Texas A&MWW 45-21 vs South AlabamaWW 35-34 at South CarolinaWW 35-34 vs LSUWW 21-13 at OklahomaWW 34-17 vs VanderbiltWSep 11Nov 5Most in a week: 2
Sep 25 to Oct 1: 2L 17-45 vs AlabamaLW 31-21 at Texas A&MWW 45-21 vs South AlabamaWW 35-34 at South CarolinaWW 35-34 vs LSUWW 21-13 at OklahomaWW 34-17 vs VanderbiltWSep 11Nov 5Most in a week: 2
Stories per week. W and L: the team’s results.

Kentucky expects RB Jovantae Barnes to return against Alabama

Sports Illustrated +1 Sep 9

All 6 stories this season

Worth knowing

  • Jovantae Barnes spent four seasons at Oklahoma before this one.

A play from this season

  1. Q2, 4:57 · Kentucky down 7, ties itJovantae Barnes runs 7 yards for a touchdownSouth Alabama at Kentucky, week 4Q2, 4:57 · Kentucky 14, South Alabama 14Kentucky tied the game in the second quarterKentucky tied the game in the second quarterJ.Barnes rush middle for 7 yards gain to the SA00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playESPN College Football

Jovantae Barnes

RB · Kentucky · #2

The five seasons span two programs and two head coaches: Brent Venables and Will Stein. A game that shows it: 100 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD against South Alabama — Week 4, 2026.

224 rushing yards · 1 rushing TD · 43 carries

Style of play

Style of play

Play style

Does a little of everything without one standout trait.

Short-yardage / goal-line · enumeration

Who gets the tough yard

1/19Inside-5 share

1 of the team's 19 inside-the-5 carries (5.3%).

Similar players

Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.