Ohio punter/kicker becomes Kentucky's 17th commitment for 2016

The University of Kentucky has found its punter for the class of 2016.

Ohio native Grant McKinniss committed to the Wildcats on Thursday, a few days after UK was the first school to extend him a scholarship offer. McKinniss averaged 41 yards per punt as a junior last season for Findlay (Ohio).

UK's current starting punter, Landon Foster, will be a senior this season, so the Cats were looking to add another player at the position as part of its 2016 class.

McKinniss is also an accomplished place-kicker. He booted 44 of his 60 kickoffs for touchbacks last season. He also made 40 of 42 extra-point attempts and set a school record with a 53-yard field goal. UK kicker Austin MacGinnis will be a junior when McKinniss gets to campus in 2016.

Kentucky now has 17 total commitments for the class of 2016, and 12 of those players are from Ohio. The class at No. 13 nationally and sixth in the Southeastern Conference by Rivals.com.

McKinniss does not have a star ranking from any of the major recruiting ser vices.

Offensive lineman leaving

Kentucky offensive lineman Josh Krok has decided to transfer, a UK spokesman told the Herald-Leader on Thursday.

Krok was part of the program's 2014 signing class and sat out last season as a redshirt. He was an early candidate to play as a true freshman before being sidelined by an injury during fall camp. He missed more practice time this spring.

Rivals.com ranked Krok as the No. 39 offensive tackle nationally in the class of 2014. Listed at 6-foot-8 and 317 pounds, he was the tallest player on UK's roster last season.

Krok was expected to contend for a backup offensive tackle spot this fall.

The Niles, Ohio, native originally chose UK over West Virginia, Louisville and others.

This story was originally published June 11, 2015 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Ohio punter/kicker becomes Kentucky's 17th commitment for 2016."