Alabama WR Javon Baker will NOT Transfer to Kentucky

One of the top transfer portal wide receivers in America will not be taking his talents to the University of Kentucky. A source tells KSR that Javon Baker will not be on the field for the Wildcats this fall.

A former top 200 recruit in the class of 2020, Baker caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in two seasons for the Alabama Crimson Tide. A talented jump ball, outside wide receiver, he checked all of the right boxes early in the transfer portal process. That changed as his arrival on campus drew near, ultimately leading the Kentucky coaches to move on without Baker. Cats Illustrated’s Justin Rowland reports Maryland is now one of Baker’s top suitors.

In a game of risk vs. reward, Dane Key‘s play this spring mitigates the risk of playing without Baker this fall. The former four-star recruit from Lexington exceeded early expectations in Lexington, reaching a crescendo with a couple of impressive receptions in the spring game, including a touchdown.

“He’s the guy I’ve been blown away by, who I think will be a big-time player in the NFL someday,” offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello told The Athletic this spring.

“He is special. For an 18-year-old kid, he’s picked it up faster than just about anybody in the NFL as a rookie. Honestly, since I walked in the door, he’s impressed me as much as anybody in our building. I just feel like he’s going to be a freakin’ really good wideout.”

It’s the second time this offseason Kentucky accepted a transfer wide receiver, who ultimately ended up elsewhere. Grade issues caused former Syracuse pass-catcher Taj Harris to re-direct from Kentucky to Rutgers, his home state school. The Wildcats were able to land Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson, who’s projected to fill Wan’Dale Robinson’s role in the slot. In addition to Key, Kentucky signed three high school sprinters — Barion Brown, Jordan Anthony and Brandon White — to dramatically upgrade Scott Woodward’s wide receiver room, even without Baker in the mix.