The offseason of transfers continues.
Coach Mark Stoops confirmed in a statement Thursday night that wide receivers DeMarcus Sweat (pictured) and Bookie Cobbins, cornerback Shawn Blaylock and safety Sterling Wright would be leaving the Wildcats.
“We thank them for their time with the program and wish them the best in the future,” Stoops said.
The Louisville Courier-Journal adds that linebacker Demarius Rancifer will transfer as well, though that has not been confirmed by the school. Rancifer’s high school coach, Greg Seibert of Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic, told the paper he wasn’t too happy about Rancifer’s departure.
“He was told, ‘You’ll never play at Kentucky,’ and that they were going to recruit a different type of athlete and he should look somewhere else,” Seibert said. “It was very disappointing because Demarius had done everything that Kentucky had asked him to do.”
In fairness to Stoops and his coaching staff, if it’s clear a player isn’t going to contribute, now’s about the best time to tell him anyway. And, again, Rancifer’s departure hasn’t been confirmed by the school yet.
Of the four official (five unofficial) departures, Sweat was the biggest contributor 25 kickoffs returned for 512 yards. He also caught four passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns, but academic problems will likely lead him to the JUCO level. With just four scholarship players at wide receiver for the time being, Kentucky’s depth at that position is already a cause for concern.