New Transfer WR Ja'Mori Maclin on Kentucky: 'They Felt The Most Genuine, The Most Real'
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Ja’Mori Maclin is ready to help Kentucky win some games. He wants to have a positive impact on and off the field.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound transfer wideout from North Texas committed to Kentucky on December 13 and wants to contribute straight from the jump. Now, officially signed with the program, Maclin will have that chance.
Maclin sat down with KSR+ for an exclusive interview to break down his decision to commit to Kentucky. In the interview, Maclin also discusses his relationship with the coaching staff, the importance he places on family, and a whole lot more.
“I’m a player that’s going to give it my all,” Maclin told KSR+. “I want to get out in the community and connect with all the fans. Anything local, signing autographs, taking pictures, any of those things. I’m really big on that.”
Maclin is big on relationships. If the fans support him, he wants to support Blue Blue Nation and the Lexington community.
“I want to put myself out there and I want them to know more about me outside of football,” he said. “They’re going to get a player that’s a leader and won’t get into any trouble. I’m laid back and don’t really do too much. I’m just here to help and win some games for the Kentucky Wildcats.”
Relationships, Track Record and Being Close to Home
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to narrow down Ja’Mori Maclin’s decision to commit to Kentucky to just one factor. However, if you had to, the coaching staff would be the first thing you’d point to.
“I’ve built a really good connection with the coaches,” Maclin said. “They felt the most genuine, the most real. I was able to easily connect with them and be comfortable with them.”
When Maclin committed to Kentucky, UK hadn’t even officially announced who would fill the wide receiver coach position. Instead, Maclin had to place his future in the hands of head coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
“They told me that they had somebody in mind with a couple candidates,” Maclin said. “I just trusted them. I trusted Coach [Liam] Coen and Coach [Mark] Stoops about who they were going to hire.”
Once it was announced that the Daikel Shorts would officially become Kentucky’s new wide receivers coach, excellent reviews started to roll in. People close to Maclin told him that the hire was a positive one.
“They were really close with him and said nothing but good things about him,” Maclin said. “I’m happy they made that decision.”
Maclin is also excited about Kentucky’s track record with receivers. He specifically mentioned Wan’Dale Robinson as an example of someone who succeeded in the UK offense.
“I really liked what they did with him two years ago,” he said. “The offensive scheme fits me perfectly.”
Playing in the SEC will be nothing new for Maclin. He started his college career with Missouri in 2020 before transferring to North Texas ahead of the 2022 season. It also helps that he’s a step closer to his family in Kirkwood, Missouri.
“I wanted to go somewhere a little closer to home so that my family could come and watch me play,” Maclin said. “I just knew that I could come in right away and help the team. Everything just played into Kentucky being the spot for me.”
Ja’Mori Maclin’s ‘All-Around Great Experience’ On His Kentucky Visit
Ja’Mori Maclin has two years of eligibility remaining, so visiting campus was something important to him. He got that chance in early December when he took a visit to Lexington.
“Of course the facilities [stood out],” Maclin said. “It was an all-around great experience.”
Maclin’s visit to Kentucky reminded him of all the resources an SEC school can provide. He had that at Missouri and now he’s going to have it again at Kentucky.
“There’s a big difference in Power Five and Group of Five resources, nutrition, and a lot of those things,” he said. “Being able to see those things, I kind of already expected it because, like I said, I came from Mizzou.”
Maclin also enjoyed the downtown Lexington area. He liked how close he was to campus.
“I felt like it would just fit me perfectly,” he said. “It felt like there was a lot to do there, but also not a lot of craziness. I don’t really like to get into too much stuff. The area really stood out to me.”
Getting to Know the New Transfers
Ja’Mori Maclin isn’t the only new offensive weapon Kentucky has brought in this season. The program has added commitments from three other offensive skill position transfers. That includes quarterback Brock Vandagriff (Georgia), running back Chip Trayanum, and wide receiver Raymond Cottrell (Texas A&M).
Despite playing the same position as Cottrell, Maclin hasn’t gotten to know his fellow wideout yet. Maclin believes it’ll come with time.
“I’ve never talked to him before, but I’m pretty sure whenever he gets down I’m sure we’ll chop it up,” Maclin said. “I’m a receiver and he’s a receiver, so we’ll definitely have some time to build a brotherhood and connection at some point. I haven’t really been paying attention to it.”
The only two players Maclin talked to throughout the transfer process were Vandagriff and current Kentucky wide receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens. Brown-Stephens and Maclin played pool together on his visit to Kentucky.
“He hit me up once I committed,” Maclin said. “A couple other guys did as well. I’m just looking forward to it.”
Right after committing, Vandagriff told KSR+ that he was working to recruit Maclin. Shortly after, Maclin took to Twitter to tease Big Blue Nation.
“We had a regular conversation,” Maclin said. “That stood out to me about him. He really took the time to get to know me. Before I committed, I told him, ‘I’m really thinking about coming bro.’ Once I committed, I reached out to him and the rest is history.”
Now, Maclin is ready to get to Lexington and start training with Vandagriff. Getting on the same page early will be crucial.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll have a great relationship,” Maclin said. “We’re both coming into a new system and want to make an impact on the team. We have the same goals. We want to win some games.”
Ja’Mori Maclin’s Route Running is His Best Asset
Ja’Mori Maclin was excellent in his 12 games at North Texas last season. He finished the year with 57 receptions for 1,004 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. And it’s his route running that stands out to many.
“Route running is definitely my greatest strength,” he said. “Being smart and knowing how to win one-on-ones, knowing how to get open, reading zones, I feel like I do best with that. I take pride in my route running and getting open.”
Maclin is also good at tracking the ball. He studies a lot of NFL players to ensure his football IQ is higher than his opponents.
“I take my time with my craft,” he said. “I always have a lot of people telling me that my route running is pretty good and advanced for my size and speed. I’m not a crazy, crazy burner. I’ve got some decent speed. I’m in control with my routes.”
Even though Maclin believes route running is a strength, it doesn’t mean he’ll stop working at it. He wants to continually get better at everything on and off the football field.
“I’m never the type of person to get complacent with where I am in my life and my career,” he said. “I always want to find a way to get better. I know Kentucky is going to help me. The coaches and the players are going to be able to push me to do that.”
Trying to Set a Good Example for His Family
You may recognize the last name Maclin. Ja’Mori’s cousin, Jeremy Maclin, played nine years in the NFL, even earning a Pro Bowl honor. Jeremy even broke down his younger cousin’s game in an interview for KSR+ earlier this month.
“Having someone like my cousin Jeremy, who is always in my ear, always critiquing me and helping me, I’m always motivated to really push myself just because of my family,” Ja’Mori said. “I just want to be a great player.”
Jeremy isn’t the only family that Ja’Mori is close to. In fact, he’s got 14 siblings, many of whom look up to him. He only has two older siblings, an older brother on each side of his family.
While his cousin saw success on his father’s side of the family, nobody on his mom’s side of the family has ever played college football. He wants to be the first on that side of the family to graduate college.
“They all look up to me like a role model, like their hero,” Maclin said. “I take pride in that. I take pride in what I do and how I carry myself off the field. Family is important to me. I always go see my little siblings. I’ve got baby sisters, baby brothers. They always look up to me. I just try to set a good example for them.”
