Former Kentucky wide receiver Hardley Gilmore IV is in transfer portal again

Hardley Gilmore IV was a significant recruiting win for Kentucky in the 2024 high school cycle as the program got the talented Florida receiver to reclassify and start his collegiate career one year early. Buzz quickly built over the summer and expectations were high for the young player. But the career in Lexington was short-lived once Gilmore followed wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts Jr. to Nebraska.

Could a return to Kentucky be possible? The former four-star recruit is a college football free agent for the second time this offseason.

Nebraska WR Hardley Gilmore has entered the transfer portal, @mzenitz and I have learned for @247Sports/@CBSSports.

Gilmore transferred to Nebraska from Kentucky this winter. Had 6 catches for 153 yards and a TD as a true freshman in 2024. https://t.co/AfqeiX2Hkb pic.twitter.com/hjOywHf0zi

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 16, 2025

Hardley Gilmore IV was dismissed from the Nebraska program just under two weeks ago. The sophomore receiver has three years of eligibility remaining after playing in seven games for Kentucky in 2024. Gilmore finished the season with six catches for 153 yards. Will Kentucky look to bring back the talented young receiver?

The Wildcats now have some room to add some transfers to the roster after seeing six scholarship players leave the program for the portal this spring.

Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker

The transfer portal is open for business and so far we know of six players in the spring portal after 21 players entered the portal in the winter.

• DL Keeshawn Silver (Committed to USC on Dec. 19)
• DB Avery Stuart (Committed to Ball State on Jan. 5)
• LB Jayvant Brown (Committed to Temple on Jan. 9)
• 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 (Committed to Tulane on Jan. 7)
• WR Brandon White (Committed to Hawaii on Dec. 28)
• EDGE Tyreese Fearbry (Committed to Wisconsin on Dec. 22)
• EDGE Noah Matthews (Committed to Delaware on Jan. 7)
• EDGE Caleb Redd (Committed to Kansas on Dec. 20)
• RB Chip Trayanum (Committed to Toledo on Dec. 24)
• QB Gavin Wimsatt (Committed to Jacksonville State on Jan. 5)
• DL Kendrick Gilbert
• OL Daniel Mincey
• OL Anfernee Crease
• CB Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall
• OL Marc Nave Jr.
• OL Wallace Unamba

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with at KSBoard. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.