'He looks like Kyle Pitts': Kentucky is excited about Izayah Cummings

The legend of flex tight end Izayah Cummings continues to grow.

On Saturday, both head coach Mark Stoops and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson met with reporters at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. Each bragged about what the former receiver is now doing at tight end during fall camp. The sophomore out of Louisville (Ky.) Male High continues to meet and surpass checkpoints since changing positions.

“Here’s a young man that always has a great attitude, works, does everything and I think he’s a difference-maker. He’s just so natural — it’s so friendly to the quarterbacks, somebody that’s that athletic with that kind of catch radius and is so smooth,” said Stoops. “Those big guys sometimes are stiffer than you think. You have a big guy that’s that athletic, it makes a big difference.”

All of this comes fresh off of a Tuesday media session where both offensive coordinator Liam Coen and tight ends coach Vince Marrow bragged about Cummings. The 228-pound flex tight end made a one-handed grab on a third down throw from Beau Allen on Saturday to extend a drive according to his head coach. The former three-star recruit is making serious waves. Even his teammates are beginning to take notice.

“Izayah looks really, really good out here,” said Robinson. “I told him he looks like Kyle Pitts.”

Well, that’s certainly a bold claim. Kyle Pitts was an absolute freak for the Florida Gators last season before going on to be selected at No. 4 overall in the NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. While catching passes from Kyle Trask last fall, Pitts reeled in 43 receptions for 770 yards for 12 touchdowns while averaging nearly 18 yards per grab. The argument could be made that Pitts was the most dominant player in college football last season.

Dan Mullen constantly used Pitts in different ways to create schematic advantages. The flex tight end could be isolated as an X receiver into the boundary (short side of the field) and win one-on-one matchups in isolation situations. He was a key cog for the Gators in both third down and the red zone — two key situational areas that are vital to success. Kentucky is hopeful that Cummings will provide something similar this season to give the Wildcats another weapon to utilize in key situations.

So far, the sophomore continues to impress everyone within the program.

“Now, all of a sudden, he looks very athletic,” said Stoops.