Kentucky assistant Daikiel Shorts expected to leave for Nebraska

This is called “Head on a Swivel SZN” for a reason. The new college football calendar has given us the early signing period, winter transfer portal, and coaching carousel all in the same week. Shenanigans and unexpected developments are unavoidable. A big surprise for the Kentucky football program was delivered just before lunch on Tuesday.

Kentucky wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts Jr. goes a one-and-done in Lexington.

Nebraska is expected to hire Kentucky's Daikiel Shorts as wide receivers coach, sources tell @mzenitz and I for @247Sports.

Shorts, a former 30under30 member, is considered one of the top young WRs coaches in the FBS. He previously worked for Dana Holgerson at Houston.… pic.twitter.com/4a4f1ydldA

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) December 3, 2024

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule made an in-season coaching change bringing former West Virginia and Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen in as the new play-caller in Lincoln. The 53-year-old Air Raid offensive coordinator recently signed a two-year deal with the Big Ten program. Now Holgorsen is getting the opportunity to bring in one of this guys. Daikiel Shorts Jr. played for Holgorsen at West Virginia and then got his start in coaching under Holgorsen at Houston after serving in support staff roles from 2018-20. After Holgorsen was fired by Houston, Shorts landed at Kentucky to work for Liam Coen but that changed quickly.

The young assistant coach is moving on after spending just one season in Lexington working with offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan. Shorts was part of a UK offense that finished the year ranked No. 114 in yards per play and No. 115 in points per drive. The passing game struggled and the wide receivers underperformed as a unit. But the young assistant coach will now get a fresh start.

Mark Stoops will now have to find his seventh wide receivers coach in 13 years at Kentucky. Expect that search to begin shortly after the Wildcats wrap up the early signing period this week.

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