Bio Blast: Demie Sumo-Karngbaye

Kentucky recorded a transfer portal recruiting win on Tuesday afternoon over Colorado, Missouri, and South Carolina when NC State transfer Demie Sumo-Karngbaye committed to the Wildcats. Surprisingly, the addition came at an unexpected position.

The Wildcats will enter the 2023 season with seven scholarship tailbacks on the roster as Sumo-Karngbaye joins a loaded position room for first-year assistant Jay Boulware. Now it’s time to find out how the ACC transfer fits in at Kentucky.

Former NC State quarterback Devin Leary should be able to help out with this transition.

Let’s go!! Right back to work my boy 🤝 @kingmetrius_ #BBN https://t.co/PuHlXROQWl

— DLeary (@DevinLeary1) May 16, 2023

Another transfer from New Jersey

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen and wide receivers coach Scott Woodward have extensive ties in the northeast. We saw that play out when Kentucky landed Will Levis back in 2020. In the current transfer portal haul, UK has not been afraid to look to that area for players.

Vanderbilt tailback transfer Ray Davis played high school ball at Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy before beginning his collegiate career at Temple. NC State quarterback transfer Devin Leary left Sickerville (N.J.) Timber Creek as the state’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,672) and passing touchdowns (117). Those two will be joined by another New Jersey transfer on offense in Lexington.

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, RSo.) starred at Willingboro (N.J.) High where he was a true run-pass threat as a junior before his high school only played three games in 2020 due to COVID-19. That made an impact Sumo-Karngabye’s recruitment. The low three-star recruit landed at NC State and spend two seasons playing in Dave Doeren‘s program.

With Irvington (N.J.) High cornerback Nasir Addison also joining the program this summer as a high school signee, Kentucky is quietly building a pipeline in New Jersey.

Earned major role as a redshirt freshman

When Demie Sumo-Karngbaye arrived at NC State, he entered a loaded position room playing for offensive coordinator Tim Beck and running backs coach Kurt Roper. Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person, Jr. were locked in as the top two tailbacks, followed by Jordan Houston. Person rushed for 1,979 yards and 14 touchdowns during his time in Raleigh while also contributing 57 receptions. Knight rushed for 2,286 yards and 18 touchdowns while chipping in 48 receptions.

Sumo-Karngbaye found himself in a special teams-only role in his first year on campus, but that changed in 2022.

The young tailback became a major contributor for NC State early in the season, rushing for 79 yards and a touchdown in the opener against East Carolina. Sumo-Karngbaye then chipped in four receptions for 93 yards in a Week 3 home win against Texas Tech. The class of 2021 signee played 149 snaps but was hampered by injuries after the first month of the season and was shut down in the last month.

Despite the injury issue, Sumo-Karngbaye was a quality contributor in a rotational role at tailback in a productive Power Five program.

Two-Way Threat

One of the biggest differences between a pro-style attack and some of the modern spread offenses in college football is how tailbacks are sometimes utilized. In many schemes, the tailback does have a lot on his plate as a receiver. Kentucky would not want that to be the case in Lexington.

As the Wildcats move to a more committee approach at tailback, pass-catching from the position will add value to the offense. Those that can provide production in the passing game can find more ways to get on the field.

In his one year at NC State, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye showed that he was a legit two-way threat at tailback.

Sumo-Karngbaye was targeted 15 times in the passing game, finishing the season with 12 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown. That skill set could be utilized in Lexington. Last season JuTahn McClain received 22 targets in the passing game. We could see the running back position utilized move as receivers moving forward.

Luckett’s Scouting Motes

To get familiar with Demie Sumo-Karngbaye’s game, I turned on the tape to check out NC State against East Carolina and Texas Tech from last season. Here is my scouting write-up on the newest Kentucky transfer with multiple years of eligibility remaining.

Slashing tailback who does a solid job of letting blocks develop and using instincts to make sharp cuts to daylight. Flashes good balance that allows him to hit creases. Has experience in both zone and gap schemes from time spent at NC State. Willing blocker in pass protection but has a long way to go with refinement. Shoulder blocker who dips his head and can be tossed aside somewhat easily. Runs with good pad level allowing him to fall forward. Often goes down on first good contact. Good receiver that can be a weapon on wheel and flare routes. Shows slipperiness in open space after the catch on screens. Don’t see the same tackle-breaking ability in the box. Flashes solid pace and timing when running slip screen routes. Breakaway speed is a question mark.

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye is an addition that helps raise the floor in Kentucky’s tailback room. All signs point to Liam Coen’s offense having a rotation at tailback, and this newest transfer is more evidence of that. Sumo-Karngbaye has pass-catching skills that will bring instant value and is another 200-plus pound back UK can add to the rotation.

Look for the NC State transfer to immediately compete with Ray Davis, JuTahn McClain, and Ramon Jefferson for snaps in Week 1. Kentucky has legitimate star power to replace at tailback, but depth is not a problem. Coen and his offense will have multiple answers at running back.