Kentucky's Signing Day Superlatives, Part 2: Transfer Portal

In most cases, high school recruiting is for sustainment and development growth. The Transfer Portal provides instant gratification to the recruiting cycle and Mark Stoops has made the best of the new process. Kentucky has made strategic Portal acquisitions for the past few seasons. The Class of 2023 is no exception. 

Signal Caller

Will Levis is off to the NFL. Signing a quarterback that fits Liam Coen’s scheme and system was priority one for the Wildcats and did they ever land the big fish. North Carolina State’s Devin Leary inked with Kentucky and brings a fresh approach to the quarterback position. His last full and healthy season produced 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns. Leary’s 2022 was cut short due to injury. Listed as the nation’s top QB in the Portal, Kentucky scored majorly by securing his signature. Leary is the Top Dog amongst all signees. The offense is now his and the Cats are in good hands. 

Line of Scrimmage

It’s no secret that the Kentucky offensive line had a rough year in 2022. The collective five played much better down the stretch, but additions were mandatory going forward. Enter Alabama’s Tanner Bowles and NIU’s Marques Cox. The latter is a plug-and-play starter at left tackle. Bowles brings an exciting addition to the interior. Combined, the two will instantly contribute and help to reconstruct the Big Blue Wall back to its proper place in college football’s hierarchy. I can see left tackle being a consistently active position amongst Portal transfers going forward. 

Running Back  

Chris Rodriguez Jr. nearly missed out on becoming the program’s all-time leading rusher after missing the first four games of the 2022 season. He joins Levis and is off to the NFL. Kentucky has enjoyed tremendous success in the past seven seasons with Benny Snell and Rodriguez Jr. lined up in the backfield. Both are two of the best to ever wear the blue and white. 

Time moves on and so did the Cats by signing Vanderbilt RB Ray Davis. The powerfully constructed runner exceeded 1,000 yards in 22 games. He also rushed for 129 yards against the Cats in Vandy’s unlikely upset at Kroger Field. Davis fits nicely into Coen’s plan of attack and gives Kentucky another physical, downhill runner. 

Secondary Influence 

The Kentucky secondary was vastly improved from the 2021 season. However, several key players are no longer in Lexington. That list includes cornerbacks Carrington Valentine and Keidron Smith. Cincinnati transfer J.Q. Hardaway is a former 4-star prospect that played significant snaps for the Bearcats. He’s expected to be a day-one starter at CB. The 6’3, 185-pound defender possesses the length that Mark Stoops covets at the position. 

Joining Hardaway is Ohio State transfer Jantzen Dunn. The former South Warren product mainly played special teams for the Buckeyes but is poised to enter the mix at safety/nickel. The Cats are stacked in that room but expect Dunn to somehow find the field in 2023. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Kentucky’s Portal history includes players that have been named starters the day they arrived on campus. Expect nothing different with this group. As many as five of the six could see their names atop the two-deep depth chart come September. This explains what I mean when I say that Stoops “strategically” recruits via the Portal. 

Kentucky’s deep dive into Name, Image, and Likeness has greatly assisted the Class of 2023. This mainly points to the Portal acquisitions. Landing the top quarterback in the nation wasn’t easy and speaks to Coen’s influence. Leary is the crown jewel of the December Signing Day. Kentucky’s new QB is a Dude that, if remains healthy, can be a difference-maker for the Wildcats. He can distribute the football to a talented collection of pass catchers and is highly accurate. Securing a left tackle, running back, and corner were also of the highest priority. Stoops checked those boxes as well. 

The Wildcats had a great day.