WKU QB Caden Veltkamp enters transfer portal

adamluckettksr

Sep 28, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) throws a pass against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Kentucky appears to be back in the market for a free agent quarterback. No clear targets fro the program have emerged yet. Could the Wildcats add an in-state native to Bush Hamdan‘s position room for the second year in a row?

We saw Kentucky bring Owensboro (Ky.) High product Gavin Wimsatt back home after spending his first three seasons at Rutgers. Will Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren product Caden Veltkamp want to say in the Bluegrass State after spending three seasons in Tyson Helton‘s WKU program?

The C-USA quarterback entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

NEWS: Western Kentucky star QB Caden Veltkamp has officially entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @PeteNakos_.

Veltkamp threw for 2,806 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.https://t.co/kSYG7dYADj pic.twitter.com/PErhTSQF9O
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) December 10, 2024

Caden Veltkamp was a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-6 and 236-pound quarterback picked the Tops over Akron, Appalachian State, and Miami (Ohio). After redshirting in 2022, Veltkamp was thrusted into the lineup in last year’s bowl game and led Helton’s team to a dramatic 38-35 as the Tops overcame a 28-point deficit to Old Dominion. Veltkamp threw for 383 yards and five touchdowns in the dramatic postseason win.

The in-state prospect returned to Bowling Green in 2023 and lost a quarterback battle to Texas State transfer TJ Finley. However, an injury knocked Finley out of the lineup and Veltkamp sezied the job. The redshirt sophomore ended the season passing for 2,806 yards on 8.0 yards per attempt with a 66.6 percent completion rate. The turnover numbers (23 interceptions/fumbles in 750 snaps) were high but the first-year starter accounted for 30 total touchdowns and helped lead WKU to the Conference USA Championship Game for the second time in four seasons.

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Caden Veltkamp enters college football free agency with two years of eligibility remaining. Will Kentucky make a move? Stay tuned.

Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker

The transfer portal is open for business and so far we know of 19 players who will be seeking out greener pastures this offseason.

DL Keeshawn Silver
DB Avery Stuart
LB Jayvant Brown
LS Walker Himebauch
TE Tanner Lemaster
TE Khamari Anderson
TE Jordan Dingle
OL Courtland Ford
OL Ben Christman
DL Tommy Ziesmer
WR Dane Key
WR Barion Brown
WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
WR Brandon White
EDGE Tyreese Fearbry
EDGE Noah Matthews
EDGE Caleb Redd
RB Chip Trayanum
QB Gavin Wimsatt

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with our staff-only sticky thread on KSBoard, which will have updates on departures and targets throughout the offseason. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.