Ohio State Transfer RB Chip Trayanum to Visit Kentucky

A former top five player from the state of Ohio is emerging is Kentucky’s top running back target in the transfer portal. Chip Trayanum is expected to be in Lexington this weekend for an official visit, reports Steve Wiltfong of 247 Sports.

Trayanum entered the transfer portal Wednesday afternoon. A graduate transfer, he has two years of eligibility remaining.

The outstanding athlete spent the last two years at Ohio State. He began his collegiate career at Arizona State where he compiled 692 yards and 10 touchdowns over two seasons. He transferred closer to home to play linebacker for the Buckeyes, but was forced into action at running back after a string of injuries in the Ohio State backfield.

In 2022 he started for the Buckeyes in The Game against Michigan. This year he was Ohio State’s second-leading rusher with 373 yards and three touchdowns. Trayanum shined in the spotlight by scoring the walk-off touchdown in the final seconds of the Buckeyes’ win at Notre Dame.

Very few college football players have experience on both sides of the line of scrimmage. That is one reason why he was included in this year’s “Freaks” list, compiled by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. The 5-foot-11, 233-pound athlete bench-pressed 415 and squatted 650 in the offseason, and was also clocked in the high 4.3s while running the 40-yard dash.

Born Deamontae Trayanum, Chip is a product of Akron’s Archbishop Hoban, the same private school powerhouse that sent QB Danny Clark to Lexington. He was a four-star running back, ranked as the No. 285 player in the 2020 recruiting class, according to the On3 Consensus, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

Kentucky is losing at least three running backs from the top of this year’s depth chart. Ramon Jefferson‘s eligibility expires, Ray Davis is heading to the NFL Draft and JuTahn McClain is entering the transfer portal. Trayanum could fill the void while the Wildcats develop three freshmen in the backfield.

He will not be the only talented recruit in Lexington this weekend. Kentucky is hosting three high school commits on official visits. Former Texas A&M WR Raymond Cottrell will also be touring the Kentucky campus. There are also a few other transfers likely to make the trip who have not been confirmed.

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