Mario Raley Update

LEXINGTON – The best game of Mario Raley’s career also was the scariest.

The senior from Charlotte, N.C., caught three passes for 38 yards, topping his season numbers coming into the games, but came close to suffering a significant injury.

Raley laid on the field for more than 10 minutes early in the fourth quarter after being hit hard by Kentucky defensive lineman Myron Pryor and linebacker Braxton Kelley after a reception.

Raley was immobilized and taken off the field on a stretcher, however he had full movement of all his extremities after arriving at a Lexington hospital, Coach Mark Richt said. He was expected to remain in the hospital overnight.

“We’re very optimistic about his recovery,” Richt said.

Richt was unsure if Raley ever lost consciousness after the hit and said the player wanted to get up on the field doctors but team doctors wouldn’t allow it. Raley lost some feeling in one of his legs, Richt said.

“I think he got a little frustrated that he was not able to get up and go,” Richt said. “I think he was wanting to jump up and start to move around a little bit.”

Raley fumbled on the play, and it was recovered by Kentucky, which scored nine plays later to take a 17-14 lead with 8:29 left in the game.