Izayah Cummings, Kentucky Tight End, Enters the Transfer Portal

A fan-favorite is taking his talents elsewhere. Kentucky tight end Izayah Cummings has entered the transfer portal. A graduate transfer, he will have one final year of eligibility remaining.

Cummings thanked the Big Blue Nation in his announcement on Instagram.

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A local product, Vince Marrow successfully recruited Izayah Cummings from Male High School, a Louisville 6A power that has long been a pipeline for the Cardinals. A three-star wide receiver prospect, he was the No. 9 player from the state of Kentucky in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Cummings played in nine of Kentucky’s 11 games during the COVID-plagued 2020 season, primarily on special teams. In the summer of 2021 tight end Keaton Upshaw suffered a season-ending injury. The Wildcats moved the 6-foot-3, 235-pound athlete to tight end and it provided immediate results.

With limited pass-catching options outside of Wan’Dale Robinson, Izayah Cummings became a valuable weapon in Liam Coen’s offense. He had the size to play tight end, but the skill of a receiver, frequently creating mismatches with slower linebackers. Cummings played in all 13 games, started in two, and caught 14 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

Many believed the momentum from 2021 would carry over into a breakout 2022 season. Instead, the opposite happened. As the Wildcats upgraded talent at wide receiver, Cummings was used less and less in Rich Scangarello’s offense. After dropping a touchdown reception against Miami, OH, Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus slowly began to take his snaps. He played in every game this fall but did not record a reception.

Cummings was mostly absent from the Kentucky offense until the final weeks of the 2023 season. He caught four passes for 98 yards, including a big 55-yarder against Louisville that set up a Ray Davis touchdown.

Kentucky Players in the Transfer Portal so far

Safety: 1
— Jalen Geiger

Wide Receivers: 1
— Dekel Crowdus

Defensive Linemen: 1
— Jamarius Dinkins

Offensive Linemen: 1
— Grant Bingham

Tight Ends: 1
— Izayah Cummings

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire and the Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker.