Luke Newman and Montavious Cunningham drawing interest from Kentucky

There’s a new name to watch for with the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA transfer portal.

According to The Portal Report, Georgia State offensive tackle Montavious Cunningham is receiving interest from Kentucky.

Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Texas Tech are among the other schools that’ve expressed interest in Cunningham.

Originally a class of 2021 recruit, Cunningham was a 3-star prospect ranked 101st among offensive tackles and 112th in the state of Georgia. Murray State, Tennessee Tech, and Lenoir-Rhyne were among his other scholarship offers.

After redshirting in 2021, Cunningham started in four games during the 2022 season. This season, he was the starting right tackle for every game until missing the finale due to injury.

According to PFF, Cunningham had a solid 68.8 grade for the season. That included a 62.4 grade for his performance at LSU in Week 12, a game in which he allowed just two hurries and no QB hits or sacks.

Cunningham isn’t the only portal lineman Kentucky is pursuing. According to 247 Sports’ Allen Trieu, Holy Cross transfer Luke Newman is drawing interest from Kentucky, Michigan State, Illinois, wake Forest, and Purdue, among others.

Originally a class of 2020 recruit, the Michigan native has been one of the best offensive linemen in the FCS ranks over the last three years.

In 2021, the 6-foot-4. 310-pounder became the team’s starting left tackle and went on to earn All-Patriot League First-Team honors.

The following year, Newman played every game and was named to the Associated Press FCS All-American Third Team.

This season, Newman played every game at left tackle and earned an elite 88.2 PFF grade.

As of now, Kentucky has lost starting left guard Kenneth Horsey and will likely lose right tackle Jeremy Flax, while left tackle Marques Cox and guard/center Eli Cox are coming back for one more year, so there are multiple spots up for grabs that Newman and/or Cunningham could compete for.