Demie Sumo-Karngbaye’s versatility on display at Kentucky | Lexington Herald Leader

If Kentucky football’s offense is to thrive this fall, quarterback Devin Leary might not be the only former North Carolina State player to contribute to the Wildcats’ resurgence.

Leary was followed in making the move from Raleigh to Lexington by running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye this spring. But running back might be too simple a label to describe how offensive coordinator Liam Coen plans to use Sumo-Karngbaye at Kentucky.

“I love it over here because I’m allowed to be more versatile,” Sumo-Karngbaye said. “They see my true value, especially in playing receiver and running back. That’s something I can’t wait for the new fans to see.”

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As a redshirt freshman last season, Sumo-Karngbaye totaled 305 yards and three touchdowns on 55 rushing attempts. He also caught 12 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.

Simply matching those numbers would give Sumo-Karngbaye more receiving yards than any Kentucky running back since Boom Williams in 2014 (162), but Coen’s scheme could make Sumo-Karngbaye an even more active participant in the passing game.

During preseason practices, Sumo-Karngbaye is splitting time working with the running backs and wide receivers. Learning both positions will make Sumo-Karngbaye a valuable weapon who can help Coen shift between formations without going to the sideline for a substitute, but it also helps alleviate some concern over a lack of depth at wide receiver, where just four players who caught a pass last season have returned.

“He’s a guy that has great hands,” wide receivers coach Scott Woodward said. “… He understands leverage and defensive coverage and all that. He gets how to reduce the surface and do all the little things right, so he can line up in the backfield and play running back or he can come line up in the slot and help me out a little bit.”

Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis is expected to open the season as Kentucky’s starting running back, but it is likely carries in the backfield are split more evenly among multiple running backs than they have been when Benny Snell or Chris Rodriguez served as the featured back for most of Kentucky’s recent bowl run.

The 2019 season, which served as a bridge between Snell’s graduation and Rodriguez’s ascent to the top of the depth chart, might offer some insight into what a running back rotation could look like. That year, three different running backs (A.J. Rose, Kavosiey Smoke and Rodriguez) each totaled at least 70 carries and at least 500 rushing yards.

Sumo-Karngbaye will compete with JuTahn McClain, Ramon Jefferson and La’Vell Wright for spots in the running back rotation. While McClain has also been praised for his pass-catching ability, Sumo-Karngbaye’s ability to play running back or wide receiver seems likely to secure him a featured role in the offense, regardless of how the running back carries are split.

“Man, this dude is versatile,” Leary said. “You’ll see him a lot in all different aspects of the game, whether that’s in the passing game, running game. He can block. He can catch screens. Honestly, I give a lot of credit to him. He prides himself on not being a one-dimensional back.

“Even a special teams player. He’s one of those guys where anything he can do for the coaches to get on the field, he’s going to do it. He’s someone that anytime you can get the ball in his hands in any type of way in the system, he can make plays happen.”

Sumo-Karngbaye acknowledges the presence of Leary in Lexington provided a needed source of information when he was making his transfer decision.

Leary had already enrolled at Kentucky and participated in spring practice by the time Sumo-Karngbaye was considering his transfer options. If Leary was satisfied with the way Kentucky coaches were making good on the promises made while he was in the portal, Sumo-Karngbaye felt he could take a similar leap of faith.

There has been no shortage of hype for Leary since he arrived in Lexington.

Leary was ranked as the top available quarterback in the transfer portal at the time of his commitment by multiple outlets. He has consistently turned heads during the portions of practice open to fans and reporters since the spring. Teammates and coaches have raved about the work he put in this summer to take on a leadership role for a team in transition.

But Leary sees much of his own approach in Sumo-Karngbaye. Rather than revel in the attention that comes with being a highly sought-after transfer, both former N.C. State players have focused on putting in the work needed to justify that hype first, Leary said.

Both players attended high school in southern New Jersey. Sumo-Karngbaye even likes to rub in the fact that he once intercepted Leary’s younger brother, Illinois quarterback Donovan Leary, during a high school game.

Coen has noticed the existing chemistry between Leary and Sumo-Karngbaye already popping up in practice. Early returns suggest Kentucky fans should get used to seeing that connection when the games count too.

“When Demie came up on his visit, you saw another high football IQ kid,” Coen said. “Just loves the game, pours into it. All he does is watch YouTube videos of football. That’s his passion. We want to try to get as many players in here that have that same passion.”

This story was originally published August 15, 2023 6:45 AM.