First Down Kentucky: A Short Transfer Portal Window

The window of opportunity is here, but only for a limited time. The transfer portal is closed to newcomers. For football players that are currently in the portal, this is the last opportunity to hit the road.

Transfer portal players have from Jan. 3-Jan. 7 to visit prospective schools. There is very little time to waste to make a decision. Classes begin Monday at the University of Kentucky. The late registration window runs through Jan. 12. To put it plainly: the Kentucky spring practice roster is set in stone once the Friday deadline passes.

This is a smaller window of opportunity, so Kentucky is pulling from a smaller pool of players. They appeared to take a swing at Georgia CB transfer A.J. Harris, but that option is no longer available. There are a handful of players with offers. Two appear to be in the center of the coaching staff’s crosshairs, Jacksonville offensive tackle Xavier Bausley and UAB cornerback BJ Mayes.

Bausley is visiting Pitt and his home state school of West Virginia before he concludes the weekend at Kentucky. Mayes is loading up on offers as the UK coaches set up a visit to Lexington. Texas A&M and Arkansas are real threats in what will be an eventful homestretch for Kentucky’s recruiting efforts in the transfer portal.

A Superstar Plans to Enter the Transfer Portal

Quinshon Judkins made headlines across the college football landscape when reports surfaced that the Ole Miss running back intends to enter the transfer portal when it reopens this spring. Judkins rushed for 1,000+ yards and 15+ touchdowns in each of his first two seasons in the SEC. He’s one of the best running backs in America.

How real is this? It’s hard to tell. Last year there was some drama in the ‘Sip as rumors circulated that he would in fact hit the portal in search of more money. That all died down when he signed an agreement with the Ole Miss collective. Now he says he’s entering the portal, but he can’t until the next window opens after spring practice. This feels more like a money grab as Ole Miss invests heavily in the transfer portal at other positions. Ultimately, I think the Rebels will have enough money to convince him to return for one more year.

Interesting Graphic

Speaking of Judkins, the following graphic from Parker Fleming illustrates his talent, and the talent of Kentucky RB Ray Davis.

One way to evaluate run games in college football is to compare scheme and OL (yards before contact) with RB ability (yards after contact):

Further right => Better scheme/OL
Further up => Better RB talent/ability pic.twitter.com/yArHwgwkN9

— parker fleming (@statsowar) January 3, 2024

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Kentucky in the Top 25 of Final SP+ Rankings

The SP+ rankings might get one more update after the national championship game, but I doubt one game will create many major shakeups. The power rankings created by ESPN’s Bill Connelly rank Kentucky No. 22 overall, one spot ahead of Clemson. The Wildcats are behind seven other SEC teams, nine if you include Texas and Oklahoma.

Kentucky ranked No. 34 in offensive and defensive efficiency, and No. 39 on special teams. This feels about right. The 2023 Cats were a fringe top 25 team that lost too many toss-up games.

I Agree with Cole Cubelic

This is the kind of play that makes a kid a neighborhood legend. It’s a move you make while playing in the dirt patch, not at the Rose Bowl. J.J. McCarthy may not be the best quarterback in college football, but he has the right stuff.

Feel like we should be talking about this play from McCarthy more. pic.twitter.com/MPqynC9oGQ

— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) January 4, 2024

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