Jon Sumrall, Steve Clinkscale receive promotions

Jacob Noger | UK Football

A pair of Mark Stoops assistants have new job titles.

Entering his sixth season on Stoops’ staff, defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale has been given the title defensive passing game coordinator. It’s a title you don’t hear about often in college football, but it’s safe to say that it’s deserved. UK has led the SEC in pass defense in each of the last two seasons as Coach Clink has created a recruiting pipeline in the state of Michigan, securing eight commitments from the Great Lakes State, including four-star prospects Justin Rogers and Marquan McCall.

Jon Sumrall has not been on Stoops’ staff as long, but like Clinkscale, he has made significant contributions on the recruiting front. In addition to serving as the Wildcats’ inside linebackers coach, in his third season in Lexington Sumrall will be UK’s co-defensive coordinator. A former Wildcat that played alongside Wesley Woodyard, Sumrall has tapped the Deep South to land seven prospects, three of which were four-star recruits — Trevin Wallace, Josaih Hayes and Christian Lewis.

Kentucky made most of its money on the recruiting trail early in the Stoops era by landing kids from within the state and from Ohio. Vince Marrow is still the Big Dog, but Sumrall and Clinkscale have proven to be reliable talent evaluators and relationship developers in areas where Kentucky has not been traditionally been successful.

The staff changes are not the only things you will find in Kentucky’s 2021 Spring Football Prospectus. Of note, Torrance Davis has moved to running back after starting his career at linebacker. You can find a complete roster, player bios and more by reading the 101-page document.