Former Kentucky Wide Receiver Transfers to Kent State

The transfer portal has closed up shop, but there are still a few players looking for landing spots. A former Kentucky Wildcat spent Derby weekend seeking out a new home.

Wide receiver Ardell Banks announced on social media that he is returning to his home state of Ohio to play for Kent State. He’ll be suiting up next fall just about 45 minutes away from his hometown of Massillon, Ohio.

Banks entered the transfer portal last month after only one season at Kentucky. A three-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, the 6-foot-3 pass-catcher was ranked just outside of the top 500 nationally as the nation’s No. 577 overall player. On3, ESPN, and 247 Sports each ranked Banks as a top 100 wide receiver in his class.

The lengthy receiver created plenty of big plays at a prestigious prep program. During his senior season at Washington Massillon High School, he caught 43 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. Banks chose Kentucky over Cincinnati, Arizona, and Wisconsin, among others.

Banks is one of four players from Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class who left the program after just a year on campus. The highest-ranked player in the class, wide receiver Shamar Porter, announced on Sunday that he will be transferring to UConn.

There are eight scholarship wide receivers on the Kentucky football roster after four pass-catchers entered the portal this spring. Only one has yet to find a new home. Ray Cottrell only spent spring practice in Lexington after starting his career at Texas A&M. Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports reports the former four-star talent will be visiting Arizona State this week.

Kentucky Football Departures in the Spring Transfer Portal

Following the conclusion of Kentucky football spring practice, eight former scholarship players entered the transfer portal and most have found a new college football home.

• DB Jordan Robinson (Entered transfer portal on April 24)
• DB Jaremiah Anglin (Entered transfer portal on April 23): Committed to Pittsburgh on April 28
• WR Shamar Porter (Entered transfer portal on April 22): Committed to UConn on May 5
• P/K Jackson Smith (Entered transfer portal on April 22): Committed to WKU on May 1
• WR Ardell Banks (Entered transfer portal on April 22): Committed to Kent State on May 6
• WR Raymond Cottrell (Entered transfer portal on April 16)
• WR Cole Lanter (Entered transfer portal on April 16): Committed to Gardner-Webb on April 23
• RB La’Vell Wright (Entered transfer portal on April 10): Committed to Austin Peay on April 24

In addition to KSR’s Transfer Portal Tracker, you can follow every move around college football with On3’s Transfer Portal wire and by following On3’s Transfer Portal account on Twitter/X.