UK lands Minnesota linebacker transfer

What is expected to be a big recruiting weekend for Kentucky football got off to a strong start with the announcement of Minnesota linebacker De'Niro Laster that he'll transfer to play for the Wildcats.

The 6-foot-4, 226-pound Cleveland, Ohio, native tweeted a picture of himself in a UK uniform and wrote: "Committed #BBN."

He explained his decision to The Courier-Journal: "Closer to home, great coaches leading this program in the right direction, and I want to pay and be the best linebacker in the SEC. And I get to play with my lil bro, Dorian Baker."

Baker, a sophomore wide receiver at UK, and Laster both played at Cleveland Heights High School. Rated the nation's 35th-best outside linebacker in the Class of 2013 by Rivals.com, Laster played in nine games for the Golden Gophers as a redshirt freshman last fall and produced seven tackles.

Laster isn't sure yet if he'll have to sit out this fall. "Maybe not is what I've been hearing lately," he said.

The NCAA eliminated the use of hardship waivers for a transfer to gain immediate eligibility earlier this year, though transfers in such cases are now allowed to ask for an additional year of eligibility at the end of their careers.

Hardship waivers were granted to players transferring for family reasons (such as a sick relative). Laster told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in May that he was transferring to be closer to home and that "we are going through a difficult family situation right now."

He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection and now becomes the latest player from Ohio to flow through the pipeline running to Kentucky. Under head coach Mark Stoops and recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow, the Cats have signed or received commitments from 27 high school players from Ohio, plus several Ohio-native transfers.

Tight end Greg Hart and linebacker Courtney Love transferred from Nebraska in January and offensive lineman Marcelys Jones announced in June he'll transfer to UK. As for the Cats' big weekend, Laster might've been just the first of multiple commitments in the coming days.

Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Follow him on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ.