Kentucky Transfer Portal Watch: Devin Leary's visit went 'very well'

Keep your head on a swivel, folks. Things are happening fast as college football teams across the country are in roster-building mode. In Lexington, the Wildcats are trying to close on NC State transfer Devin Leary.

Things seem to be heating up quickly after the transfer arrived on campus for an official visit on Tuesday. Sources tell KSR’s Matt Jones that the Kentucky football program is feeling great about its chances of landing one of the top quarterbacks available in the transfer portal.

Hearing the visit by QB Devin Leary went very well. I think the UK folks feel VERY good about their chances of landing the top QB in the portal

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 16, 2022

It is important to point out that a recruiting dead period begins on Dec. 19 and programs will not be able to host prospects for visits until January. This is vital when dealing with mid-year transfers who are trying to get enrolled before the spring semester begins. If another visit doesn’t occur quickly for Leary, the Cats may just have this recruitment wrapped up.

Devin Leary could give Kentucky proven production at QB

Devin Leary was a four-star recruiting win for Dave Doeren’s NC State program out of Sicklerville (N.J.) Timber Creek in the class of 2018. The top-350 prospect finished his prep career as New Jersey’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,672) and passing touchdowns (117).

Leary would become a starter in the last five games in 2019 as a redshirt freshman at NC State. From there, he became one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC.

Leary complied 26 career starts during his time in Raleigh with the last three seasons coming under offensive coordinator Tim Beck. During that run with Beck — who was just named head coach at Coastal Carolina — the quarterback tossed for 54 touchdowns in 21 games completing over 60 percent of his passes each year.

The numbers dipped in 2022 (6.6 yards per attempt, 41.3% success rate, 2.1% interception rate, 130.9 QB rating, 15% explosive pass rate), but NC State had a woeful rushing attack (No. 90 in rush success rate, No. 112 in yards per rush, and No. 113 in rush EPA). However, the good from the first two years outweigh the bad.

Leary posted over eight yards per attempt in both 2020 and 2021 leading the Wolfpack to a 12-3 record while scoring 33.1 points per game. Add in the six starts in 2022, and Leary was 17-4 as a starter under Beck with each loss occurring in true road games against Power Five teams with winning records.

Kentucky is looking to add that production and winning track record to its offense.