Jon Sumrall gets emotional describing why he coached 1 last game at Kentucky
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Jon Sumrall was on the sideline for 1 final time as Kentucky’s inside linebackers coach before he turns his full attention to his duties as the new head coach of Troy. And it was a happy ending to his tenure as the Wildcats scored late in the Citrus Bowl and sealed the game with an interception by DeAndre Square as they defeated Iowa 20-17.
Sumrall was the ILB coach at his alma mater for 2 seasons following a stint at Ole Miss, and was instrumental in the development of Square, who played in potentially his final game in a Wildcat uniform. The senior totaled 80 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and 3.0 sacks in 2021.
Following the game, Sumrall held back tears during an interview while discussing Square’s interception and return to the game despite initially being ruled unable to continue due to injury.
“[He] had to miss the 3rd quarter [but] didn’t quit,” he said. “To make that play at the end, my God, what a stud. I came back to coach that kid and to watch him make that play, it made my year.”
“I came back to coach that kid and to watch him make that play. Made my year”
An emotional @CoachJonSumrall on @d_square10 and his game-clinching interception
With @EliGehnTV ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Vo0o2EWm2P
— BBN Tonight (@BBNTonight) January 1, 2022
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
