KSR Today: Transfer Portal Chaos, presented by RMHC of the Bluegrass

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In the classic words of Kevin McCallister: “You guys give up, or are you thirsty for more?”

Mark Stoops is clearly in the Christmas spirit, reeling in gift after gift for the Kentucky football program, securing two major commitments out of the transfer portal on Thursday. First, it was Northern Illinois offensive lineman Marques Cox, a 6-foot-6 left tackle with 2,000 career snaps at the position. He started 33 consecutive games for the Huskies, giving up just three total sacks in his career on 1,052 passing snaps.

A few short hours later, Cincinnati cornerback JQ Hardaway announced his commitment to Kentucky, almost immediately after the program lost standout defensive back Carrington Valentine to the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3 corner was a former four-star recruit in the class of 2022, holding offers from the likes of Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, Ole Miss, Florida State and Michigan State, among others. He was rated as the No. 273 overall prospect and a top-30 cornerback in the On3 Consensus — a former blue-chip recruit with immediate-impact potential.

Two massive commitments at positions of need, back-to-back, giving the Wildcats three portal additions overall this offseason. Alabama interior lineman Tanner Bowles became the first last week.

KSR’s Nick Roush and Adam Luckett broke it all down on the KSR YouTube Channel shortly after the announcements:

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It doesn’t end there, either. In fact, the Wildcats are on the cusp of landing a commitment from Vanderbilt running back Re’Mahn “Ray” Davis, who begins his visit to Lexington this weekend. He previously said a decision was “coming soon” and Kentucky is seen as the overwhelming favorite to land his services.

Mark Stoops and new running backs coach Jay Boulware met with the veteran playmaker earlier this week.

@UKCoachStoops @CoachJ_Boulware Family 🤞🏽💙 appericate it pic.twitter.com/gno9xvybPK
— Re'Mahn Davis (@MrHeisman7) December 12, 2022

The former Commodore was one of four SEC running backs in 2022 to register over 1,000 rushing yards (1,042) while also tacking on five touchdowns on the ground. He added 169 receiving yards and three scores through the air.

A public commitment for Davis could come as early as Friday, giving the Wildcats a solid replacement for Chris Rodriguez going into the 2023 season.

Elsewhere, top-rated NC State quarterback transfer Devin Leary just wrapped up a visit to Kentucky, a trip that reportedly went “very well.” Looking for a new QB1 following Will Levis’ departure this offseason, the Wildcats could be on the cusp of landing a commitment from the former four-star recruit, who finished his time in Raleigh with a 17-4 overall record as the team’s starter.

Kentucky is confident in its chances.

Hearing the visit by QB Devin Leary went very well. I think the UK folks feel VERY good about their chances of landing the top QB in the portal
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 16, 2022

Another name to keep an eye on: Ohio State safety Jantzen Dunn, a Bowling Green native who received a visit from Vince Marrow this week shortly after entering the portal. That’d be yet another former four-star recruit added to the fold this offseason, again at a position of need. He was rated as a consensus top-200 prospect out of South Warren in 2021.

The dice are hot for Mark Stoops and company.

John Calipari, Orlando Antigua preview UCLA

While the football team looks to load up its roster for 2023, the basketball team will have its hands full this weekend in New York City, taking on UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday.

The Wildcats boarded the plane and flew up to the Big Apple on Thursday. Shortly before that, though, head coach John Calipari and lead assistant Orlando Antigua spoke to the media to preview the highly anticipated matchup of top-20 foes.

“I’ve watched a bunch of tape of them and they’re really good,” Calipari said. “The biggest thing is they’re really physical. Defensively, they’re really physical. They’re fighting screens, they’re fighting the post, they’re fighting pick-and-rolls. If you don’t fight, you have no chance in this game so you’ve got to negate that part of it. Really hard to do. Not many people have been able to do it.

“And then, when they shoot the ball like they shot yesterday, they become oof. They’re really good.”

“Their guards will play physical and bump and grind. They’re after it,” Antigua added. ”They’re good. I’m anxious to see how we perform.”

Kentucky will tip-off vs. UCLA at Madison Square Garden on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast live on CBS.

What are the experts saying about the head-to-head battle? ESPN’s matchup predictor gives UCLA a 51.7% chance of winning — previously a 55.1% chance in favor of Kentucky before the Bruins’ blowout win over Maryland on Wednesday. Bart Torvik agrees, giving UCLA a 69% chance to win with a score prediction of 74-69.

Making the trip? KSR’s biggest New York lover Drew Franklin has all of the tips and recommendations you could ever need in his latest guide to the Big Apple and CBS Sports Classic.

Abby Steiner wins The Bowerman

The accolades continue to pile up for Kentucky sprinter Abby Steiner, this time bringing home the most prestigious award in collegiate track and field.

The native of Dublin, Ohio took home The Bowerman at the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s annual national awards ceremony in Denver on Thursday. This honor comes after Steiner swept the 2022 USTFCCCA Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year Award, the Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year Award, and the Honda Sports Award for Track and Field. She was one of three finalists alongside Florida multi-event star Anna Hall and California hammer thrower Camryn Rodgers.

Steiner is the first Wildcat to win the prestigious award, first introduced in 2009. Kentucky’s Kendra Harrison and Sydney McLaughlin – NCAA champions and future Olympic medalists – were finalists in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

Bowl season begins

Just like that, bowl season is here, with games actually starting this morning and lasting through the College Football Playoff championship in January.

Looking for something to watch this weekend? Check out the full slate of games below: