GRAD TRANSFER: Andrew Kent to Finish Eligibility at Colorado

Yesterday, Andrew Kent announced that he'll be finishing his eligibility as a graduate transfer next year with the Colorado Buffaloes. The current Georgia Tech distance runner is expected to have a full year of eligibility once he arrives in Boulder.

Kent has been a strong distance talent for the Yellow Jackets during his time in the collegiate ranks. However, this past year has resulted in a massive breakout for the Atlanta-based runner.

After a respectable cross country season, Kent lit up the indoor oval with personal bests of 7:56 (3k) and 13:47 (5k). He took down a rising talent in Cole Bullock at the Music City Challenge, earned a pair of top-five finishes at the ACC Indoor Championships and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 3000 meters.

So far this spring, Kent has only raced once on the outdoor oval. The future Colorado Buffalo matched his 13:47 personal best to finish 8th overall at the Raleigh Relays.

Kent's future introduction to Colorado's roster could be a monumental one. The Buffaloes had a respectable winter cross country season, but did not have the scoring services of Kashon Harrison and Stephen Jones. While men like Eduardo Herrera and Alec Hornecker did bring key firepower to the front of Colorado's cross country lineup, their backend was too young and inexperienced to effectively compete with the top teams in the PAC-12 and the NCAA.

In a world where the top names on Colorado's roster return to use their extended eligibility next fall, Kent could be the missing piece who gives the Buffaloes a complete top-five and helps put them on the podium. It's still unclear if veteran names like Herrera, Hornecker and Jones will return to this team next fall, but this is a much better roster than some people may realize.

Admittedly, Kent has proven to be more effective on the track than the grass. However, it's clear that his recent performances have transcended his results from this past fall. On paper, Kent can be a pivotal piece who emerges as a potential scorer on a podium-contending team.

On the track, Kent will be tasked with challenging PAC-12 rivals from Oregon, Stanford, Washington and Washington State. The consistently fast fields and high-level competition could result in a plethora of new personal bests for Kent when faced with new west coast foes.