Izayah Cummings is only going to get better after career night

A missed facemask call, which eventually resulted in an unsportsmanlike penalty on Mark Stoops, might be even more of a topic of discussion had Izayah Cummings not bailed his head coach out the very next play.

The 6-foot-3 former wide receiver turned tight end had the game of his Wildcat career on Saturday. Although his efforts came in a soul-crushing 45-42 defeat to the hated-rival Tennessee Volunteers, Cummings is making an impact as a sophomore.

Stoops’ validated tirade on the sidelines over a missed facemask penalty cost his team 15 yards. Kentucky was now facing a 4th and 24 from its own 34, trailing by three with just 65 seconds left. Anything short of 24 yards would end the game for UK.

Quarterback Will Levis drops back, surveys his options for a couple of seconds, and delivers a strike to Cummings down the right sideline, who finally gets dragged down at the Tennessee 38-yard line. First down ‘Cats with 55 seconds left.

Unfortunately, Kentucky couldn’t pull out the win in the end. UK would eventually turn the ball over on downs, losing to the Vols and falling to 6-3 on the year with three consecutive losses.

But with that in mind, we’re always looking for silver linings around here, and Cummings was exactly that. The Louisville native finished the night with career highs in receptions (four) and yards (75) to go along with his second touchdown of the year.

The 24-yard score he received from Levis was easily the highlight of Cummings night. The Kentucky quarterback delivered another perfectly placed ball to Cummings with under 10 minutes to go in regulation. He caught it around the eight-yard line and was immediately hit, but fought his way into the endzone with defenders hanging off his back.

“He’s great. I’m so happy for that kid,” Levis said after the game. “The touchdown he had, he beasted his way in there. But to transition from that wide receiver to tight end and be so positive about it; and to develop as a complete player and going and blocking, putting his nose in there and being fast, running good routes. He’s been a good asset for us and he’s only going to get better and I’m excited to see his progress.”

As noted, Cummings initially came to Kentucky as a three-star wide receiver out of Male High School. He began his Wildcat career at that position, but after not seeing the field on offense during the 2020 season, Cummings moved back to his original position at tight end ahead of 2021.

“I knew (Izayah), once he moved to tight end he was gonna be special just because he’s such a mismatch with his speed and size and having linebackers on him,” Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said. “He’s just going to get better.

On the year, Cummings has 11 total catches for a combined 155 yards and two touchdowns. Most of his production has come in Kentucky’s three losses: eight receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Even with an early drop on his stat line, Cummings responded.

“He’s such a good kid. He’s a great example of a kid that just does all the right things both on the field and off the field,” Offensive coordinator Liam Coen said of Cummings. “And then his number’s called and he has a great game and makes some plays; he comes back after a drop, he had a drop coming down this way which was a big drop and he ended up coming back and making two, three more plays, which is so good to see. Because it shows the other players good things happen to guys who do things right all the time.”

Kentucky’s offense exploded against the Vols, running up over 600 yards and six touchdowns. More stability from the wide receiving core has been missing throughout the eight games of the season, but everyone put it together on Saturday, most notably Izayah Cummings.