Number one player in 2023 recruiting class has several ties to Kentucky

Former UK all-SEC defensive lineman Donte Rumph with star recruit Labbeus Overton.

Could Kentucky be positioned to land the top player in the 2023 football recruiting class? Five-star defensive lineman Lebbeus Overton of Alpharetta, Ga., already has cut his potential college list to 12 and Kentucky is on there along with Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas A&M, USC and Georgia.

The 6-4 1/2, 265-pound Overton — who visited UK when the Cats beat Chattanooga — has several Kentucky connections.

First, his mother, Eunice Thomas, played volleyball at Kentucky.

Second, he knows UK linebacker Jacquez Jones, a transfer from Ole Miss this year, because his older brother played AAU basketball with Jones and played high school sports against him.

Third, former UK defensive lineman Donte Rumph has been working with him as his trainer and certainly sharing stories about his time at UK when he had 126 tackles in four season. Rumph was a second-team all-SEC pick his senior season in 2013 when he had 47 tackles. Overton’s mother knew about Rumph and helped put them together.

Rumph knows Overton is going to be a huge difference-maker in college and has his choice of schools.

“He has always had an interest in Kentucky with his mom being a former UK volleyball player,” said Rumph. “The influence of Kentucky has always been there for him. He is an amazing athlete. He is one of those rare athletes you find who is the complete deal. He will be graduating early and is an honor student with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

“He works very hard and is very disciplined and coachable. He’s very easy to work with. Over the past year I have worked with him and connected with him on a personal level. I hope he sees me as a big bro (brother).”

Rumph says the two talk about a lot more than football and Overton feels comfortable asking him questions and/or advice.

“We have built that bond over the past year. He is extremely close with my kids. He calls me oldest son (age 12) his little brother. My son really looks up to him and it is great for him to have him (Overton) as a role model.”

Rumph said getting to visit Kentucky was special for Overton and he knows the atmosphere was “electric” for the game.

“When I came to Kentucky for the first time in 2007 (as a recruit) and we played Louisville, I had never experienced a game or setting like that,” Rumph said. “When Stevie Johnson got the game-winning touchdown, I still remember the sounds and how electrified Kroger Stadium was.”

Rumph says Kentucky “definitely has an opportunity to pull in a player” like Overton with the direction the program is going.

“He’s a big-time recruit and a complete athlete, ” Rumph said. “One thing I will harp on about him is his IQ. He’s a student of the game and knows how to game plan for his opponent. He knows tendencies and executes at a high level. He does not make mistakes. He soaks everything in and learns.

“He is also so strong that he can hold that edge or make you miss and get a sack. There just are not many players like him and I think Kentucky has a great chance to get him.”