First Down Kentucky: Rankings and Louisville Shenanigans

We’ve reached a new point in the college football offseason. Kentucky was one of the many teams that wrapped up spring practice over the weekend. The NFL Draft and high school recruiting are on the horizon, but before we get to that, the transfer portal is dominating the conversation. That created some online silliness for Louisville football fans.

It all started Monday night when word got out that Peny Boone was ready to re-enter the transfer portal. Boone was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year for Toledo last fall. Re-entering the portal this quickly is somewhat unusual, prompting one college football account to share, “The checks aren’t clearing.”

Zach Soskin is a self-proclaimed “brand builder” who is affiliated with Louisville QB Pierce Clarkson. He went to the Cards defense and actually threatened to sue the anonymous Twitter account in a hilarious back-and-forth. That wasn’t the craziest part of the last 24 hours for Louisville fans.

As the transfer portal opened Tuesday morning, Brandon Marcello of 247 Sports reported that five Louisville offensive linemen and one defensive lineman are expected to enter the portal. Coming from a national reporter, this appeared to carry some weight. It sent off a firestorm around Louisville Twitter and within minutes one of the players mentioned, Madden Sanker, said he is in fact not transferring. When it appeared his information was false, Marcello was forced to issue a public apology and retraction.

I am rescinding my initial report on several Louisville offensive linemen expected to enter portal. For full transparency: I received conflicting info after the initial report (5 OL, 1 DL), and there was also confusion from a source about the initials in a name. After speaking…

— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) April 16, 2024

There’s never a dull moment in college football.

The Beast Arrives

Dane Brugler is one of the most respected analysts in NFL Draft circles. Each year he compiles “The Beast” for The Athletic. This year the comprehensive draft guide is 324 pages long.

Two Kentucky Wildcats are featured in the Top 100. Andru Phillips is the No. 61 overall prospect, with Trevin Wallace not far behind at No. 86.

Ray Davis: No. 9 RB, 4th Round
Andru Phillips: No. 9 CB, 2nd-3rd Round
Trevin Wallace: No. 3 LB, 3rd Round
Devin Leary: No. 9 QB, 5th-6th
Brenden Bates: No. 22 TE, UDFA
Jeremy Flax: No. 30 OT, UDFA
Tayvion Robinson: No. 42 WR, UDFA

Kentucky in the On300

A lot has been going on around the KSR compound the last few days. Lost in the shuffle were the latest updates to the On300. Charles Power and the masterminds behind On3’s scouting department shuffled the deck and there are a few noteworthy risers with Kentucky connections.

Michigan offensive tackle N’Kye Wynn has been prioritized by Eric Wolford. He’s scheduled an official visit to Kentucky, while Michigan State looms as the Cats’ top competition. Frankfort Western Hills defensive lineman Javeon Campbell went from an unheard of prospect that was new to the game of football to a Top 200 prospect. Now recruited by everyone who is anyone, most notably Notre Dame and Ohio State, Campbell has the unpolished tools to develop into a difference-maker at the next level.

44. Tavion Wallace, LB, GA
52. Justin Hill, EDGE, OH
56. Trey McNutt, S, OH
110. Lex Cyrus, WR, PA
114. Marquise Davis, RB, OH
126. Bo Jackson, ATH, OH
136. Javeon Campbell, DL, KY
145. Andrew Marsh, WR, TX
155. Dalen Penson, CB, GA
159. Iose Epenesa, EDGE, IL
162. Dawayne Galloway, CB, OH
252. Christan Gass, LB, GA
264. N’Kye Wynn, OT, MI
279. Luke Gilbert, TE, OH
299. Keon Young, S, FL

Kentucky Spring Review on 11 Personnel

The dust is settling on Kentucky football spring practice. Tonight on 11 Personnel, we’ll discuss what we learned about the Wildcats over the last month and turn our attention to the transfer portal, which will dominate the Kentucky football conversation over the next month. Tune in LIVE tonight at 8 pm on the KSR YouTube Channel.