Transfer Portal Teammates Reunite to Make Impact at Kentucky

Even in the modern era, often times it’s not what you know, but who you know. Mark Stoops‘ Kentucky football program continues to thrive in the transfer portal, and worth of mouth is playing significant role in the Wildcats’ success.

This offseason Kentucky added 15 new transfers. Six of those players previously played together across three different schools. QB Devin Leary and RB Demie Sumo-Karngbaye are both New Jersey natives who started their careers at NC State. IOL Ben Christman and DB Jantzen Dunn transferred to UK from Ohio State. Two players that played against Kentucky last fall at Northern Illinois, OT Marques Cox and LB Daveren Rayner, will suit up for the Wildcats this fall.

The players did not transfer in twosomes. One committed in December, then their former teammate followed in the spring. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen believes this is not just a one-off, but a trend that will continue in the future.

“You see it in high school, right? You see when kids are coming out of high school, they go try to be teammates in college… I do think that in the big picture, you can start to see some of that double up deal,” Coen said earlier this week.

Two Transfer Portal Additions Locked Up by Former Teammates

When KSR asked Demie Sumom-Karngbaye why he picked Kentucky, I could hardly finish asking the question before he responded, “Devin Leary.” Of course, that’s not the only reason why DSK is a Wildcat, but it played a big role.

The same can be said for Daveren Rayner. Desperate for depth at inside linebacker, Brad White found just what he was looking for in a familiar place. After the Kentucky coaches shared their pitch, Rayner turned to a someone he could trust.

“It was a pretty important piece in the fact that Marques is a guy I have a lot of respect for, not only as a football player, but as a person. Marques is four years older than me, so Marques was my host on my official visit when I was in high school,” Rayner told KSR.

Recruiting moves fast in the transfer portal. There’s no time to waste on fancy photoshoots and all of the trappings of a typical high school visit. Kentucky uses a matter of fact, no-nonsense approach. Cox provided the validation Rayner needed to pull the trigger and commit to Kentucky.

“We built a great relationship while we were at NIU. Him coming here, when I got the opportunity to come here, him being in my ear: ‘Everything that they have said to me, has come true as long as I hold up my end too.’ Getting that opportunity to hear Marques’s side of everything, it did play a big role. It speaks to the character of the guys that run the program.”

Creating connections between players is not the end all be all in the world of transfer portal recruiting. NIL, playing time and the playbook probably still reign supreme, but these players are getting one final chance to make the most of their college careers. They can’t afford to waste it. That’s why Devin Leary called his old Manning Passing Academy roommate before making his final decision. Just like the UK coaches, Will Levis shot him straight and the UK depth chart is infinitely better for it. It’s always good to know a guy.

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