Izayah Cummings moves from Wide Receiver to Tight End

Let me share what Vince Marrow was unwilling to say Monday morning: Izayah Cummings is going to be a Kentucky tight end.

Monday morning on the Leach Report the Big Dog said there was a new, unnamed player in the tight end’s meeting room. That unnamed player is Izayah Cummings. The redshirt sophomore will join forces with Justin Rigg, Brenden Bates and Jordan Dingle after Keaton Upshaw suffered a season-ending injury during preseason training.

A highly sought after recruit from Louisville Male High School, Cummings split time as a wide receiver and tight end for the 2018 6A State Champions. A jump ball specialist, he put those skills to good use in a double overtime game-winning touchdown grab over Trinity. His next best strength as a prep prospect — blocking ability.

Standing 6-feet, 4-inches tall and weighing over 230 pounds, Cummings is built for the position. When I saw Cummings at a summer football camp in Lexington, he looked more like a tight end than a wide receiver. Cummings has the tools to get the job done and the move will give him more opportunities to see the field.

Kentucky will frequently use multiple tight ends in Liam Coen’s offense. They need at least four players to provide depth and keep fresh bodies on the field. When Upshaw went down, Marrow’s room lost its greatest pass-catching threat. Cummings gives the Cats some much needed wiggle and juice at the position this fall.