In case you missed the big football news for UK on Wednesday, Donte Rumph was finally cleared to play for the Cats. Rumph committed to UK back in 2008 and again in 2009 had to spend the last two seasons at Fork Union Military Academy to make himself eligible to play. The news is great for UK defense after it was announced last week that Paul Warford was declared ineligible to play.
Speaking at a luncheon for the Governor's Cup, Coach Phillips praised Rumph's hard work. Chip Cosby's has several comments from Joker on Rumph in his latest article for Kentuckysports.com. Here are a few excerpts,
Kentucky hung in there with Rumph, who was re-signed in 2009 and once again failed to qualify. UK signed Rumph for a third time in February, and Phillips said he was confident that Rumph would finally become a Wildcat. Phillips said he learned late Tuesday night that Rumph was good to go.
"It gives me cold chills that a guy has been persistent in trying to get here," Phillips said. "Listening to his dad go into tears, that means a lot to me, giving a guy like him an opportunity."
Rumph's availability is good news for the Cats, who are extremely thin at defensive tackle going into camp. UK is trying to replace third-round NFL Draft choice Corey Peters. The status of redshirt freshman Mister Cobble, who was expected to start, is uncertain because of academics.
Rumph hasn't played competitive football since 2008 at Fork Union, but Phillips said he'll have to be thrown into the fire this fall.
"If we don't play him now, he'll be 40 years old before he finishes," Phillips said. "We need to play him."
But Phillips also warned that Rumph probably has a long way to go to polish off the rust and get into football shape.
"It's unrealistic to expect that he's going to come in here and set the world on fire after being away from this game for two years," Phillips said.
