The Kentucky football program opened the weekend by making its final offseason moves official. Head Coach Mark Stoops announced the addition of seven players from the transfer portal. The group is headlined by Southern California offensive tackle Courtland Ford, Ohio State offensive guard Ben Christman and North Carolina State running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye.“We are excited about these new additions to the team,” Mark Stoops said in a statement. ”We have added three offensive linemen to boost our Big Blue Wall, a kicker for specials teams depth and a talented inside linebacker, defensive back and running back.” Here is a closer look at all seven:
Kentucky Football Bios for Newcomers
Ben Christman, Offensive Line, 6-6, 315, So-Tr, Akron, Ohio (Ohio State/Revere)
Christman transferred to Kentucky after two seasons at Ohio State and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2021, then played sparingly as a redshirt freshman in 2022. He was a four year starter at Revere High School, where he was received a four-star ranking by every major recruiting service. He was the top-rated offensive lineman from the state of Ohio in the Class of 2021.
Courtland Ford, Offensive Line, 6-6, 305, Jr-Tr, Cedar Hill, Texas (Southern California/Cedar Hill)
Ford transferred to Kentucky after three seasons at Southern California. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in 20 games with 12 starts for USC. Prior to the 2022 season he was considered a possible first round NFL prospect.
Kevin Larkins Jr., Defensive Back, 6-2, 170, So-Tr, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Livingstone/Advance Prep Academy/Fort Lauderdale)
Larkins transferred to Kentucky after one season at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. The talented corner finished the season with a Division II high eight interceptions, 161 interception return yards, one interception return touchdown and a nation-high 0.9 interceptions per game. He also recorded 40 total tackles (32 solo), two tackles for loss, four pass breakups and a forced fumble in his lone D-II season.
Dylan Ray, Offensive Line, 6-5, 293, So-Tr, Noblesville, Indiana (West Virginia/Noblesville)
Ray transferred to Kentucky after two seasons at West Virginia and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2021 and saw limited action in one game as a redshirt freshman in 2022. His dad John played OL at West Virginia from 1988-91 and went on to play in the NFL.
Daveren Rayner, Inside Linebacker, 6-3, 205, Sr-Tr, Indianapolis, Indiana (Northern Illinois/Lawrence Central)
Rayner transferred to Kentucky after playing three seasons at Northern Illinois and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He played in 22 games and earned 17 starts at NIU. 2022 was the best season as he led the Huskies with 8.8 tackles per game and ranked second on the team with 71 total tackles and 30 solo tackles in eight games.
Alex Raynor, Kicker, 5-11, 190, Sr-Tr, Kennesaw, Georgia (Georgia Southern/Harrison)
Raynor transferred to Kentucky after three seasons at Georgia Southern and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He played and started in 36 games with being 45 of 59 field goals (.763), 110 of 113 PATs (.973), and a career long FG of 47 yards. Finished as the Sun Belt’s leading scorer in 2022 with 103 points scored in 13 games.
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, Running Back, 6-0, 210, Jr-Tr, Willingboro, N.J. (NC State/Willingboro)
Sumo-Karngbaye transferred to Kentucky after two seasons at NC State and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He was the team’s second leading rusher in 2022 despite playing in only eight games due to injury. Totaling 55 carries for 305 yards and three touchdowns, while also catching 12 passes for 148 yards and a score. He reunites with his Wolfpack teammate Devin Leary.
This is in addition to adding seven transfers prior to the spring semester. Tanner Bowles OL 6-5 300 Sr-Tr Glasgow, Ky. (Alabama/Glasgow). Marques Cox OL 6-5 305 Sr-Tr Peoria, Ill. (Northern Illinois/Peoria). Ray Davis RB 5-9 215 Sr-Tr San Francisco, Calif. (Vanderbilt/Temple/Blair Academy). Jantzen Dunn DB 6-0 185 So-Tr Bowling Green, Ky. (Ohio State/South Warren). Jonquis “JQ” Hardaway DB 6-3 190 So-Tr Columbus, Ga. (Cincinnati/Central-Phenix City, Ala.). Devin Leary QB 6-1 215 Sr-Tr Sicklerville, N.J. (NC State/Timber Creek). Keeshawn Silver DL 6-4 322 So-Tr Rocky Mount, N.C. (North Carolina/Rocky Mount).
The additions give Kentucky football a class of 14 total transfers in their 2023 class. It is the 16th ranked transfer portal class per On3 industry rankings.
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