Devin Leary just outside Top 10 of ESPN's top transfers/freshmen

The transfer portal is now a way of life in college sports, especially college football. As Mark Stoops has said several times, you better be willing to adapt or you will become irrelevant very quickly. Kentucky has done just that, adding 15 transfers to the 2023 roster, many of them at key roles such as quarterback, running back, and the much-maligned offensive line.

One name is bigger than all the rest: Devin Leary. The NC State transfer is No. 11 on ESPN’s list of the Top 50 newcomers, meaning transfers or freshmen, in college football this season. As Tom VanHaaren writes, Leary — and, in turn, Kentucky’s offensive line — is the key to the Wildcats’ 2023 season.

“Leary started the last five games of the 2019 season as a redshirt freshman and played in eight games overall. He played in four games in 2020 before an injury ended his season. He then played in 12 games during 2021 and threw for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns, breaking Philip Rivers’ single-season school record for passing scores. He played in six games during the 2022 campaign before suffering another season-ending injury. The Wildcats saw starter Will Levis selected in this year’s NFL draft and, if Leary can stay healthy, he should have no problem successfully running Kentucky’s offense.”

VanHaaren’s list drops one day after Leary was ranked the No. 1 transfer in the SEC by Saturday Down South. Earlier this week, he was named to the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Prior to suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in October, Leary was 118-193 with 1,265 yards, 11 TDs, and a 61 percent completion rate in six games, leading the Wolfpack to a 5-1 record and Top 15 ranking. Over four seasons at NC State, he completed 568-of-944 passes for 62 touchdowns and 6,807 career passing yards.

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times: if the offensive line can keep Leary safe, big things can happen.

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Leary drawing rave reviews in Kentucky fall camp

Leary’s numbers are impressive, but how is he performing on the field thus far at camp? The reviews have been glowing, with offensive coordinator Liam Coem raving about Leary after Tuesday’s practice.

“All eligibles are alive when Devin’s throwing the ball,” said Coen. “The concept might mean we are trying to throw a curl-flat. But if that curl-flat doesn’t look good to him, he’ll exhaust all eligibles. So all four or five receivers, tight ends, running backs, if you’re within the route concept, you gotta get ready for the ball because he will throw it to anybody at any time.

“He has a great feel for the vision of the play, the concept and understanding, but he also knows how to just play ball. That is extremely important as the details, the fundamentals and techniques of the pass game so that we are in the right spots at the right time for us to be able to be efficient there.”

Just 22 days until we get to see him for ourselves in the season opener vs. Ball State.