The Transfer Portal is Officially Closed (Kind of)

The transfer portal deadline came and went. Kentucky got some bad news on the tail end when projected starting wide receiver Hardley Gilmore became the 22nd player to enter the transfer portal this offseason.

The madness should be over. The thing about the portal is that it never feels over, even after the Dec. 28 deadline passed. Here’s why.

48-Hour Waiting Period

Entering the transfer portal isn’t as easy as signing up for KSR+. It requires paperwork to be filed by the individual to the university, who then has to put it into the online database. That can take up to 48 hours.

For example, On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported Saturday night that Tennessee WR Mike Matthews intends to enter the portal. Other schools cannot find the former five-star talent in the database right now. It will take up to 48 hours or so before it becomes official.

Grad Transfers Have No Rules

Seriously, they can do whatever the hell they want whenever the hell they want. There are is only one time constraint for student-athletes with a degree to enter the transfer portal. They must make a move by the time the second window closes in April.

Time Extension for Players in the Postseason

It may sound rare in this day and age, but some players are actually playing in the postseason before seeking out a new home. If a rotational player for a CFP team wants to hit the portal after their season ends, they have five days to submit their paperwork. You can expect to hear players from National Championship teams enter the transfer portal until Jan. 25.

Transfer Portal Opens for Coaching Changes

The coaching carousel creates as much offseason chaos as the transfer portal. When Nick Saban abruptly announced his retirement on Jan. 10, it opened the portal for 30 days to Alabama football players. It’s unlikely that we’ll see another offseason move with such magnitude, but the NFL’s delayed carousel could certainly get the transfer portal cooking once again.

One Thing to Consider for Kentucky Football Fans

This entire article has been dedicated to when players can enter the transfer portal. Once officially in the free agent market, players can commit to a new school whenever, so long as that school will take them. Jan. 17 is the last day you can add a class at the University of Kentucky, which means the Cats have a little less than three weeks to wrap up their 2025 free agency class.

There is one more Transfer Portal Window

Even though some coaches lobbied to get it eliminated, rosters will not be set until after the second transfer portal window in the spring. Once spring practices conclude, disgruntled players can hit the transfer portal between April 16 and April 25. Most players are locked in for the duration of the fall, but there will still be some light movement while the Commonwealth gears up for the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Football Players in the Transfer Portal

There have been 22 transfer portal departures this offseason, many of which will continue to play football in the Power Conference ranks.

• DL Keeshawn Silver (Committed to USC on Dec. 19)
• DB Avery Stuart
• LB Jayvant Brown
• TE Tanner Lemaster (Committed to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 22)
• TE Khamari Anderson (Committed to Arizona State on Dec. 22)
• TE Jordan Dingle (Committed to South Carolina on Dec. 18)
• OL Courtland Ford (Committed to UCLA on Dec. 17)
• OL Ben Christman (Committed to UNLV on Dec. 27)
• OL Dylan Ray (Committed to Minnesota on Dec. 21)
• OL Koby Keenum (Committed to Mississippi State on Dec. 22)
• DL Tommy Ziesmer (Committed to EKU on Dec. 15)
• WR Dane Key (Committed to Nebraska on Dec. 24)
• WR Barion Brown (Committed to LSU on Dec. 14)
• WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
• WR Brandon White (Committed to Hawaii Dec. 28)
• WR Hardley Gilmore
• EDGE Tyreese Fearbry (Committed to Wisconsin Dec. 22)
• EDGE Noah Matthews
• EDGE Caleb Redd (Committed to Kansas on Dec. 20)
• RB Chip Trayanum (Committed to Toledo on Dec. 24)
• QB Gavin Wimsatt
• LS Walker Himebach (Committed to Colorado State on Dec. 22)

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.