Meet the Wildcats: 6 First Impressions of Kentucky Football Transfers

Mark Stoops added seven players from the transfer portal during the first offseason window. Six of the new Wildcats, sans Jantzen Dunn, were available to speak with the media Wednesday morning. Learn more about the interesting new Kentucky football players and see everything they had to say.

Devin Leary Shares a Similarity with Will Levis

Much will be made about the differences and similarities between Devin Leary and Will Levis. Hell, we’ve already written one story about it. However, his approach mirrors his predecessor and that’s significant. Even though Leary is still rehabbing a torn pec, preventing him from throwing a football, he’s still trying to lead by example to create chemistry with his new teammates.

“This is my third week here, so right now just getting around the guys and really prove to them through my hard work, prove to them I’m eager to be here. I’m very happy to be here, but at the same time, it’s an honor and a privilege to be here,” said Leary. “I need to prove to them that I’m going to put in the work that it takes a lot of time and I take it very serious. But at the same time it’s grabbing those guys on the side, diving into the playbook, doing extra film and really building that camaraderie right now.”

Levis was not handed the starting job. He had to earn it. Even though this is Leary’s job for the taking, and he’s arriving five months earlier than Levis did, he is still not taking anything for granted while cultivating relationships with his teammates.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

You’re Going to Love Ray Davis

Cornerbacks, wide receivers and running backs are typically the biggest personalities on a football team. Throughout the Mark Stoops era, from Jojo Kemp to Benny Snell, the ball carriers have rarely been shy. Ray Davis is the most charismatic of them all.

The 1,000-yard rusher from Vanderbilt has the same quality in him that makes Vince Marrow great. You could put this dude in seemingly any environment and he would captivate the audience. A COM major at Vandy, he was cracking jokes and speaking with the media like he knew us for years. You’ll enjoy getting to interact with Davis at The 15 Club Fan Fest this Saturday.

Marques Cox was a High School Wrestler

The former Northern Illinois offensive tackle suffered torn ligaments in his foot at Kentucky, prematurely ending his final season with the Huskies. He feels fine now and expects to participate in spring practice.

Now that we’ve gotten the formalities out of the way, it was enlightening to learn Marques Cox (pronounced like MAR-cuss) was a high school wrestler. The skills in that sport directly translate to what makes a left tackle successful.

“It helps you with leverage. I’m a taller guy so I probably gotta get under people a little bit more. It taught me a lot about leverage and how to control my body,” said Cox.

“It’s the same as having one-on-one blocks on the edge. Knowing you’re on an island and that nobody else can help you out of a situation, but yourself. Carrying that mentality into football being the left tackle, being the blind side, I gotta take care of some of the best rushers teams have. You’re going to be mono e mono a lot so I carry what I learned over (to football).”

Confidence is Key for Tanner Bowles

Glasgow native Tanner Bowles spent four years at Alabama and won a National Championship in his first season. While playing for the greatest coach in college football history, he learned how to pay attention to details. He may have paid too close attention to the little things. He struggled to surpass the high-bar he set for himself and it prevented him from reaching his potential in Tuscaloosa.

“One thing that I struggled with was just confidence. I would hold myself to a high standard, and not saying that’s a bad thing. It’s a great thing to hold yourself to a higher standard, but at some point you have to just appreciate the moment. I didn’t do that enough,” he admitted.

Even though he’s only been at Kentucky for a short period of time, he already feels more comfortable on the Kentucky offensive line. “Me and Marcus (Cox) have talked, and getting to know him and just seeing who he is, I feel more comfortable with all the guys. It’s been a new journey, but I’m liking it so far.”

JQ Hardaway comes from a Football Culture

He spent on season at Cincinnati, but don’t get it twisted, JQ Hardaway is from the Deep South. A native of Columbus, Ga, he played his final season of high school football across the border for Alabama 7A powerhouse Phenix City-Central. He knows what big-time football means in SEC country.

“I got told to go to the SEC. I got beat up for going to Cincinnati, so I’m happy to be in the SEC. I’m excited,” said Hardaway.

He knows all about Kentucky football too thanks to one wise member of the BBN.

“I went to Hardaway High for my freshman through my junior year. I had a social studies teacher named Alex Sturgeon and Alex Sturgeon is a die-hard Kentucky fan y’ll. There’s nothing Kentucky went through for the last three years that I haven’t seen. I swear to God, my phone, he sends me everything — the Tweets or stats, where the defense is ranked in the SEC — just that type of stuff. He sends me all of it. He keeps me in the loop.”

I can confirm this report. Alex from Colga (Columbus, Ga.) is a loyal Kentucky Roll Call texter who has been trying to get JQ to Kentucky for three years. Now he’s getting some recognition for doing some of the heavy lifting for Mark Stoops. Ya love to see it.

Keeshawn Silver Takes Personal Accountability

Keeshawn Silver was the highest-ranked recruit in North Carolina’s top 15 2021 recruiting class, one spot above quarterback Drake Maye. While Maye was earning All-ACC honors, Silver did not see many snaps at all. Injuries are partially blame, but Silver is still taking accountablity.

“I think things didn’t work out because of the time management part. There’s things I should’ve been doing better to prevent myself from injuries and stuff like that,” he told KSR. “Things change so I had to find a better option for myself.”

Like many transfers, Silver learned about the adjustments from high school to college the hard way. A tall, lengthy defensive lineman, he’s about 6-foot-4, 310 pounds. His weight apparently was a problem at North Carolina. Part of his fresh start at Kentucky is getting into the best shape of his life, and it looks like he’s moving in the right direction.

“Focus on myself, focus on my body, be a great teammate and keep getting better everyday.”