2025 Kentucky Football Spring Transfer Portal Tracker

Kentucky football spring practice ended, opening the door for a new period in college football. The transfer portal opened on Wednesday, April 16, and will close to new entries on Friday, April 25.

It’s a brief period that will allow teams to finalize rosters. Mark Stoops wants to add depth at a few positions. That requires some roster attrition. Kentucky played spring ball over the scholarship limit. To add a few players, they’ll have to lose even more.

The spring transfer portal period is shorter than the December period and there are different rules for SEC schools. A player cannot transfer from one SEC institution to another in the spring and receive immediate eligibility. Jacquez Jones followed that path early on and was a great Kentucky success story.

The transfer portal tracker will keep you up to date with who’s leaving this spring and who the Wildcats are targeting to fill the roster. For more in-depth intel on which UK coach is leading the charge, how serious the interest is, when possible visits might happen, and more, make sure to head on over to KSR+ where we have all of the latest scoop.

For more, check out the KSBoard Spring Transfer Portal thread.

Latest Updates

April 21, 9:15 PM ET | Sunday was filled with so many surprises that we got behind in our portal tracking. Seth McGowan completed his official visit and was quickly committed to the Cats. Adam Luckett breaks down what he’s bringing to Kentucky.

— Kentucky hosted an unexpected visitor over the weekend, tight end Keayen Nead. The Cats are going to be run-heavy this fall, and his size can ensure Kentucky will have enough depth to run two-tight end sets. Even though UK got the first visit, they were unable to lock it up right away. We’ll see if it lingers too long to get the former New Mexico tight end on board.

— Kentucky offered Keelan Marion shortly after the wide receiver entered the transfer portal. The All-American is generating a ton of interest and the law of dibs does not work in the portal. He’s likely heading elsewhere.

— Kentucky’s portal departures are on the verge of finding suitors. Darrion Henry-Young is visiting Virginia Tech, while Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall has booked trips to Liberty and Coastal Carolina.

Spring Transfer Portal Commitments (3)

Hardley Gilmore — WR — Nebraska, Kentucky — True Sophomore — 6 receptions, 153 yards, 1 touchdown

In a 2024 season filled with lows, Hardley Gilmore gave BBN reasons for optimism. From The Glades area of Florida, the speedy wide receiver reclassified and joined the team for practice ahead of the 2023 Gator Bowl. He received universal praise in what should’ve been his high school senior season and flashed as a playmaker. Kentucky was excited to build around Gilmore as the nucleus of the offense. When his position coach left for Nebraska, he was pressured to follow him to Lincoln. After only a few months at Nebraska, Matt Rhule said Gilmore was dismissed from the team. He is returning to Lexington and will contribute right away in a wide receiver room that needs an upgrade in talent.

Lorenzo Cowan — EDGE — USC — Redshirt Freshman

Lorenzo Cowan initially committed to play for Kentucky in the 2024 recruiting class. USC made a late push for the Georgia native that led to a flip, even though his brother, Tavion Gadson, is a Kentucky defensive lineman. A three-star talent in the high school ranks, he did not appear in a game for USC last fall, giving him four years of eligibility at Kentucky, where they desperately need depth in a rebuilt EDGE room.

Seth McGowan — RB — Oklahoma, New Mexico State — Senior

A former Top 200 recruit for Oklahoma is in the middle of a comeback story after a two-year absence from football. He was forced to take some time off after he was dismissed by the Sooners. McGowan pleaded guilty to larceny in a drug-related crime that involved two other Oklahoma teammates. He started his comeback in the JUCO ranks, then tallied 823 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and three touchdowns for New Mexico State in 2024.

Transfer Portal Targets (3)

Planned Visits

Jaylon Stone — DL — SEMO — Redshirt Sophomore

Hailing from Athens, Ga., the 6-foot-4, 288-pound defensive tackle had ten tackles last fall and 2.0 sacks. According to PFF, he ranked in the top five among FCS players in run defense. He reportedly plans to visit Kentucky and Illinois. Stone has three years of eligibility remaining.

• April 18: In addition to Kentucky and Illinois, Oklahoma has secured a date on campus with Stone. This is setting up to be a competitive transfer portal recruitment.
• April 18: Stone speaks with Jacob Polacheck about his recruit, reveals he will visit Kentucky April 25-27.

Known Targets

Keayen Nead — TE — Weber State, New Mexico — Redshirt Junior

Nead is a big, old, strong tight end. The 6-foot-5, 262-pounder began his college career after taking a mission trip and redshirted in his first college football season (2022). He was a bruiser in the run game in the FCS ranks. He transferred to New Mexico in December and was contending for a starting position. Kentucky is looking for depth in the tight end room, and this guy fits the bill. BYU is UK’s top competition.

• April 19: Nead earns an offer on a visit to Kentucky.

Keelan Marion — WR/KR — UConn, BYU — Redshirt Senior

Marion caught 24 passes for 346 yards and a touchdown last season. What really sets him apart from his peers is his playmaking ability on special teams. In 2024, Marion returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and had 472 yards on only 18 returns. He was an All-American and Big 12 Kick Returner of the Year. That explosiveness has made him one of the most coveted playmakers in the transfer portal.

• April 21: Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong report that Marion is scheduling visits to SMU, Tennessee, Arizona State, and Miami. Colorado and Texas are also trying to get him on campus. That’s going to be hard for the Cats to compete with.

Spring Departures

• DL Kendrick Gilbert
• OL Daniel Mincey
• OL Anfernee Crease
• CB Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall
• IOL Marc Nave
• OL Wallace Unamba (Transferred to Virginia)
• NG Dennious Jackson
• DL Darrion Henry-Young

Fall Transfer Portal Class

Player	Position	Former School	Year
Sam Greene	EDGE (6-2, 248)	USC	Redshirt Sophomore
Landyn Watson	LB (6-1, 245)	TCU/Marshall	Redshirt Senior
Joshua Braun	iOL (6-6, 342)	Florida/Arkansas	Super Senior
Alex Wollschlaeger	T (6-7, 310)	Bowling Green	Super Senior
J.J. Hester	WR (6-5, 201)	Missouri/Oklahoma	Super Senior
Zach Calzada	QB (6-4, 230)	Texas A&M/Auburn/Incarnate Word	Super Senior
Henry Boyer	TE (6-6, 265)	Illinois	Redshirt Junior
Kendrick Law	WR (6-0, 203)	Alabama	Senior
Dante Dowdell	RB (6-2, 227)	Oregon/Nebraska	Junior
Jaden Williams	iDL (6-4, 291)	Wyoming	Redshirt Junior
Kevis Thomas	CB (6-0, 181)	Maryland	Junior
Evan Wibberley	iOL (6-5, 301)	WKU	Redshirt Junior
Kam Olds	EDGE (6-4, 252)	Buffalo/Kent State	Senior
David Gusta	iDL (6-3, 316)	Washington State	Redshirt Senior
Troy Stellato	WR (6-1, 178)	Clemson	Redshirt Senior
Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace	DL (6-4, 265)	South Dakota	Redshirt Junior
Tru Edwards	WR (6-2, 200)	Hawaii/Louisiana Tech	Super Senior
Shiyazh Pete	T (6-8, 321)	New Mexico State	Redshirt Senior

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