Kentucky transfer target Gunnar Hansen commits to Florida State

Left tackle was a position of need in the transfer portal for the Kentucky football program this offseason. Vanderbilt transfer Gunnar Hansen quickly emerged as a top option with the Wildcats locking in a visit for Wednesday. That visit is highly unlikely to happen now.

The SEC transfer committed to Florida State on Tuesday night after finishing a visit to see Mike Norvell‘s ACC program.

BREAKING: Vanderbilt transfer OL Gunnar Hansen has Committed to Florida State, he tells @on3sports

The 6’5 325 OL started 37 Games in 3 years for the Commodores

Was named SEC OL of the week & Outland National POTW this season

1 year of eligibilityhttps://t.co/uPFJ0HrGGB pic.twitter.com/qc2hDQe7FS

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 17, 2024

Gunnar Hansen was a three-star prospect out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2021 recruiting cycle. Hansen signed with Vanderbilt and became a three-year starter for head coach Clark Lea after redshirting as a true freshman. Hansen split time at left guard and left tackle before settling in at tackle in his last two seasons in Nashville. The veteran played both tackle spots as a redshirt junior in 2024.

The transfer will now spend his final college season playing for new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and offensive line coach Herb Hand as Norvell is attempting to complete a flip after highly disappointing 2-10 season.

Kentucky will need to pivot to address the left tackle position. Nevada transfer Isaiah World came off the board on Monday with Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas A&M emerging as finalists. Derek Simmons (Western Carolina) and Ethan Onianwa (Rice) could be other options for UK.

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 (Committed to UCLA on Dec. 17)
• OL Ben Christman
• DL Tommy Ziesmer (Committed to EKU on Dec. 15)
• WR Dane Key
• WR Barion Brown (Committed to LSU on Dec. 14)
• 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.