Tight end Wallace transferring to UK

By Chip Cosby / ccosby@herald-leader.com

Tight end Ryan Wallace, a former All-State player from Bowling Green High, is transferring to the University of Kentucky.

Wallace spent his freshman season redshirting at the University of Colorado before leaving after the spring semester. He was in Lexington on Wednesday to meet with the coaching staff and applied for admission to UK. Wallace is expected to walk-on in 2009 and receive a scholarship in 2010. He will have three years of eligibility remaining after he sits out this season as a transfer.

Wallace was a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com and performed mainly on the scout team during his only year at Colorado. Wallace’s father, Kevin, who coached him at Bowling Green, said homesickness was the primary reason for his son’s decision to leave Boulder. Wallace’s grandfather passed away this past Thanksgiving.

“Things happened personally within our family that had an impact on him, and he welcomes the opportunity to get closer to home.”

Wallace also considered Western Kentucky but ultimately decided UK was the best fit. The Cats’ top three tight ends, T.C. Drake, Ross Bogue and Maurice Grinter, are all seniors, which would give Wallace a chance to learn the system during his transfer year and compete for the starting job in 2010.

“The potential is there for me to get early playing time, and the fact that’s it the SEC didn’t hurt,” Wallace said of his decision to attend UK. “It’s far enough that I can be myself, but close enough that my family can come watch me play.”

The 6-foot-5 Wallace said he gained 30 pounds during his redshirt year at Colorado and is now up to 245. He will report to UK in August and can began practicing immediately.