Kentucky transfer target Daveren Rayner has 3 visits scheduled

Northern Illinois transfer Daveren Rayner is a notable transfer target for Kentucky. The Wildcats appear to have a great shot to land the linebacker prospect with two years of eligibility remaining.

Rayner received a scholarship offer from Kentucky on May 1 and worked quickly to get an official visit scheduled. Per Chris Hummer of 247 Sports, the linebacker transfer has visits scheduled with Cincinnati (May 4-6), Kentucky (May 11-13), and Texas Tech (May 18-20). The Wildcats have a lot to sell the transfer.

“They don’t really have any flaws, you know, after playing Kentucky last year. I love the setup of the stadium, all the coaches are genuine,” Rayner told 247 Sports. “And a good friend of mine, Marques [Cox], just transferred to Kentucky. We played together. He was my host on my official at NIU. We have a really good relationship. With him going through this process and seeing the trust he put in Kentucky early on coming out of the portal, just talking to him he truly feels they didn’t lie to him about anything. If he can put his trust in that staff the way he is right now, it’s definitely a place I can see myself.”

Kentucky will look to close on the transfer when he makes it to campus next weekend. The Wildcats have added nine scholarship transfers to the roster this offseason. Over the next two weeks, we should see some more player movement as Kentucky has multiple open scholarships available.

Off-ball linebacker is a position of need for the Wildcats with only five scholarship players currently on the roster. Daveren Rayner could find a nice fit on defensive coordinator Brad White’s unit.

Scholarship distribution

Per KSR’s count, Kentucky currently has 81 scholarships accounted for with four available spots. Here is how the Wildcats are spending their scholarship capital.

— QB (4): Devin Leary (Super), Deuce Hogan (RJr.), Kaiya Sheron (RSo.), Destin Wade (RFr.)

— RB (7): Justice Dingle (Super), Ramon Jefferson (Super) Ray Davis (RSr.), JuTahn McClain (Sr.), Dee Beckwith (RJr.) La’Vell Wright (RSo.), Jamarion Wilcox (Fr.)

— WR (9): Tayvion Robinson (Super), Dekel Crowdus (RSo.), Barion Brown (So.), Dane Key (So.), Jordan Anthony (RFr.), Brandon White (RFr.), Ardell Banks (Fr.), Anthony Brown (Fr.), Shamar Porter (Fr.)

— TE (7): Brenden Bates (Super), Izayah Cummings (Sr.), Jordan Dingle (RSo.), Josh Kattus (So.), Khamari Anderson (Fr.), Jakob Dixon (Fr.), Tanner Lemaster (Fr.)

— iOL (9): Kenneth Horsey (Super), Tanner Bowles (RSr.), Eli Cox (RSr.), Jager Burton (RSo.), Ben Christman (RSo.), Paul Rodriguez (RSo.) Grant Bingham (RFr.), Koby Keenum (Fr.), Austin Ramsey (Fr.)

— T (6): Marques Cox (Super), Jeremy Flax (RSr.), Courtland Ford (RJr.), Josh Jones (RJr.), Nikolas Hall (RFr.), Malachi Wood (Fr.)

— Offense: 42

— DL (12): Josaih Hayes (Sr.), Sam Anaele (RJr.), Darrion Henry-Young (RJr.), Octavious Oxendine (RJr.), Tre’vonn Rybka (RJr.), Jamarius Dinkins (RSo.), Kahlil Saunders (RSo.), Keeshawn Silver (RSo.), Deone Walker (So.), Tavion Gadson (Fr.), Kendrick Gilbert (Fr.), Tommy Ziesmer (Fr.)

— EDGE (5): J.J. Weaver (RSr.), Keaten Wade (So.), Tyreese Fearbry (RFr.), Noah Matthews (RFr.), Grant Godfrey (Fr.)

— LB (5): Luke Fulton (RSr.), D’Eryk Jackson (RJr.), Martez Thrower (Jr.), Trevin Wallace (Jr.), Jayvant Brown (Fr.)

— CB (8): Andru Phillips (RJr.), Jantzen Dunn (RSo.), Maxwell Hairston (RSo.), Jordan Robinson (RSo.), JQ Hardaway (So.), Elijah Reed (RFr.), Nasir Addison (Fr.), Avery Stuart (Fr.)

— S (6): Jalen Geiger (RSr.), Zion Childress (Sr.), Jordan Lovett (RSo.), Alex Afari (So.), Jaremiah Anglin (Fr.), Ty Bryant (Fr.)

— Defense: 36

— Specialists (3): Chance Poore (Super), Wilson Berry (RSo.), Jackson Smith (RFr.)

— Total: 81