Kentucky Adds Defensive Line Transfer Keeshawn Silver
Former North Carolina defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver has signed to play football at the University of Kentucky, head coach Mark Stoops announced Monday. He will be eligible immediately and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
“We are very excited about the addition of Keeshawn to our program,” Stoops said. “He has unlimited and extremely high potential. He also adds great size and depth across our front line and we can’t wait to get him here and get to work.”
Silver, a 6-foot-4, 315-pound sophomore from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, played two seasons at North Carolina, totaling four tackles in six games played. He redshirted the 2021 season, appearing in three games vs. Georgia State, Virginia and Wofford. In 2022 as a redshirt freshman, he saw action in three games vs. FAMU, Virginia Tech and Miami. He posted a career-high three tackles vs. the Hurricanes.
In high school, he was considered a five-star prospect who was tabbed as the nation’s eighth-best player, the No. 3 defensive end and the No. 1 player in the state according to ESPN. He was listed as the nation’s 32nd-best player, the No. 5 strongside defensive end and the No. 2 player in North Carolina in the 247Sports Composite and ranked as the nation’s 85th-best player, the No. 7 strongside defensive end and the No. 5 player in the state by Rivals. He was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game and was a Sports Illustrated All-America candidate prior to his senior season at Rocky Mount High School. He earned all-state and All-Big East 3-A Conference honors as a junior after recording 47 tackles, seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss. As a sophomore, he totaled 31 tackles, 3.5 sacks and eight TFL in just seven games. He was coached by Jason Battle.
Besides football, the multi-sport athlete also ran track and played basketball. He averaged 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds over his three-year career.
Silver, who has a nickname of “Big Kountry” was raised by his grandmother, Queen Silver, as his mother, Cynthia, passed award during his childhood.
Silver is the eighth transfer added to the roster this season, joining Tanner Bowles (Alabama), Marques Cox (Northern Illinois), Ray Davis (Vanderbilt), Jantzen Dunn (Ohio State), Shane Hamm (Dayton), JQ Hardaway (Cincinnati) and Devin Leary (NC State).
