Army may have lost something aside from Saturday’s football game against Navy.
The college football website On3.com is reporting that Army sophomore running back Kanye Udoh has announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal. This would serve as a severe blow to the Army run game.
Udoh is rugged at 6-foot, 218 pounds, but very fleet of foot, able to dance through holes and accelerate quickly in the clear. He has rushed 179 times for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, ranking second on the team in both categories behind quarterback Bryson Daily.
In Saturday’s 31-13 loss to Navy, Udoh had 14 carries for 53 yards, with a long gain of 12 yards.
His top rushing efforts this season have come against Tulane (158 yards), Air Force (158), Tulsa (137), Temple (128) and East Carolina (102). He rushed for a pair of touchdowns against Lehigh in the season opener, Tulsa and Air Force and single scores against Florida Atlantic, Temple, Alabama Birmingham and Tulane. He had a notable 72-yard gainer against Tulane a week earlier, getting stopped inside the 5-yard line and setting up an Army score as the Black Knights won the American Athletic Conference.
It is unclear if Udoh entering the transfer portal would take him out of the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl game with Louisiana Lafayette or afterward. Army could fill with the likes of Jake Rendina, though his talents lend to outstanding blocking. The Black Knights could put more emphasis on the slot backs, and the durable Daily – facing his final collegiate game – could take on more responsibilities having already topped 25-plus carries five times in the last six games, including 38 against Notre Dame and 36 against North Texas.
Unlike many Army recruits who do not receive offers from other Division I schools, Udoh drew some interest from West Virginia and Syracuse before heading to West Point. He is a high school teammate of Army center Brady Small at St. Augustine Preparatory.
All West Point students in their freshman and sophomore years are able to transfer out of the Academy. However, once a cadet attends the first day of classes for their junior year they become affirmed to the school and their military service commitment.
The NCAA transfer portal has taken on a life of its own in recent seasons. The old rule of having to sit out a year after transferring was done away with, allowing multitudes of college athletes to transfer with no risk of penalty. Army football has not been spared, losing a pair of young quarterbacks – Champ Harris and Larry Robinson – after last season. Current back Tyrell Robinson entered the portal following the 2021 season but withdrew that.
Former wide receiver Isaiah Alston announced his intention to enter the portal after the 2023 season but since he was a junior he was denied his departure to play for Iowa State. He also considered transferring after the 2021 season.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army running back Kanye Udoh to enter NCAA transfer portal: report
