The Kentucky offensive line became easy to root for this season as the “Big Blue Wall” took on a big leadership role for the Wildcats. Drake Jackson was in the middle of that, and his post-game quote following the win over South Carolina on the UK Sports Network made fans love him even more.

“I don’t know how many games I’ve played, but I’m looking right now where I sat at my first UK game years ago,” Jackson said. “There’s nothing that I ever wanted more than to be in the position I am now. I never forget that. … I always remember being that little kid, 8 years old, watching the UK football team play and wanting to be one of them. So absolutely, if you give me any opportunity to play another game for UK, I’m going to take it. So of course I would love to play in a bowl game.”

Coach Mark Stoops after the South Carolina win shared his thoughts on the bowl process.

“Well I think that will be a little bit of a balancing act there,” he said. “I think our players are really, have left it all on our practice field and on this game field and have left it there for us this year, there’s no question, they emptied the tank.”

Stoops said the players would decompress for about 12 hours and then he would have a meeting with them on Sunday.

“But I think there’s some obligation there for myself and our team and our league and if it’s expected of us we’ll do what I’ve done all year, we’ll put one foot ahead forward and keep on pressing on and be excited about that opportunity,” Stoops said. “You can’t take those things for granted.”

Stoops said he would meet with Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, and “make the best decision for our program, for our players and our obligation for the league as well.”