UK football gains 2021 commitment, loses two players to transfer portal
The University of Kentucky football program gained a new football commitment Friday. Shortly after, it lost two of its building blocks already on campus.
Kahlil Saunders, a defensive end out of Huntsville, Ala., announced his commitment to the Wildcats at 2:25 p.m. Friday. Sixteen minutes later, at 2:41 p.m., defensive lineman Cavon Butler shared that he is entering the NCAA transfer portal. A little more than an hour after that, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Kavoan Hawkins also entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Butler, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound Toledo native, was listed as a nose guard. As a true freshman last season he made one appearance, recording a tackle in UK’s 50-7 win over Tennessee Martin. If he transfers to another FBS school and is not granted a waiver by the NCAA, Butler would have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out next season.
Hawkins, a 6-2, 282-pounder from Hollywood, Fla., played in nine games and made three tackles and forced a fumble last season. Two of those tackles were for a loss, including a quarterback sack.
Rivals rates Saunders as a three-star prospect; he does not have a rating on 247Sports. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect had reported only two other offers from FBS schools, Kansas and Virginia Tech.
Saunders wrote that he is “1000% committed” to UK and that he is closing his recruitment.
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 3:38 PM.
