Cash Harney Bets on Himself, Walks On at Kentucky with Eyes on Impact
Cash Harney isn’t your typical walk-on. He’s not a four-star recruit.
He’s not even sticking with the position he played in high school. But what he does bring to Kentucky is belief - in himself, in his work ethic, and in his ability to contribute at the next level.
The former Covington Catholic quarterback is heading to Lexington as a preferred walk-on, despite a high school career that turned heads. Harney was a true dual-threat under center.
As a senior, he threw for 1,648 yards, ran for 754 more, and added 63 receiving yards for good measure - totaling 22 touchdowns in the process. The year before, he helped lead CovCath to the Class 4A state title game with a stat line that included over 1,300 passing yards and nearly 1,500 rushing yards.
That’s not a typo - he ran for more yards than he threw, scoring 19 times on the ground.
Over his four-year career, which included a freshman stint at Beechwood where he started five games for a Class AA state championship team, Harney racked up 6,855 total yards. And yet, despite all that production, major college offers didn’t come calling - largely because his future position isn’t quarterback.
“Kentucky had been interested in Cash, but I don’t know if they would’ve offered,” said Newport Catholic head coach Eddie Eviston. “It had a lot to do with his position. He played quarterback and safety for us, but that’s not what he’ll be at the next level, and that makes it hard to offer.”
That positional ambiguity didn’t stop Harney from chasing the opportunity. He attended a summer camp at Louisville and worked out at wide receiver, where his athleticism stood out.
That’s when Pete Nochta, then Louisville’s director of recruiting, took notice. When Nochta followed new head coach Will Stein to Kentucky, the door opened for Harney to join the Wildcats.
“Pete really wanted him at Louisville,” Eviston said. “He saw something in Cash and wanted to give him this chance.”
There’s a connection here that goes deeper than just a recruiting evaluation. Stein, Kentucky’s new head coach, knows what it’s like to be overlooked.
He began his own high school career at Trinity as a wide receiver before transitioning to quarterback. He walked on at Louisville, earned a scholarship, and eventually became the starter.
It’s not hard to see the parallels with Harney - a versatile, undersized athlete who just keeps finding ways to make plays.
“Cash is a bit undersized, but he just has a knack for getting the job done,” Eviston said. “He has a pretty dynamic skill set.
We’ve had some really good receivers come through here. He never played that position, but he’s one of the best receivers I’ve seen.
It’s just that he could do so many things at quarterback that allowed us to be in every game.”
And it’s not just football. Harney is a standout basketball player, too - averaging 15.8 points per game last season and setting school records in both sports. He’s the kind of athlete who doesn’t just play - he impacts games.
“He’s a tough kid who wants to do well,” Eviston added. “He really works on his craft. He had opportunities to go to a lower level to play, but he sets high goals and believes he can do it - and so do I.”
Jordan Nevels agrees. A former Kentucky defensive back and Highlands High School standout, Nevels now trains athletes across the region - including current UK tight end Willie Rodriguez, another Covington Catholic product. He’s worked with Harney and sees the same potential.
“I think having Willie there really sealed the deal for him,” Nevels said. “But I also know it’s been a lifelong dream of his to play for Kentucky and be a part of BBN.
He loves the culture and tradition. I think it’s going to be a great fit for him.
He’s a kid that’s very explosive. He’s super athletic.”
Nevels, known during his playing days for his physicality in the secondary, believes Harney has what it takes to make the transition to safety - a position he’ll likely focus on at Kentucky.
“If he has the right people around him, I believe he’ll be able to play that position at a high level once he learns the ins and outs,” Nevels said. “He’s not afraid to bet on himself. He’s not just trying to be on the roster - he wants to contribute.”
That mindset might be Harney’s greatest asset. He understands the uphill climb.
He knows he’s walking into a room full of scholarship athletes. But rather than shy away from the challenge, he’s embracing it.
“He understands the reality of where he is,” Nevels said. “But I think that excites him. He wants to work to earn his spot and eventually become a starter down the road.”
And Nevels isn’t sugarcoating the path ahead. He’s made it clear to Harney that walk-ons don’t get anything handed to them.
“It doesn’t matter where you are or where you come in - you have to outwork every single kid in that program,” Nevels said. “Stay consistent, because a lot of people will fall off.
It’s not about where you start, it’s about where you finish. And I believe he has the character and the makeup to be successful at Kentucky.
He’s going to surprise a lot of people.”
Cash Harney might not have the stars next to his name, but he’s got something just as valuable - a relentless drive, a versatile skill set, and a chip on his shoulder. Kentucky fans shouldn’t be surprised if this walk-on becomes a name to remember.