Kentucky DB Rickey Hyatt Jr. enters name in transfer portal

Kentucky Football has suffered a third transfer portal casualty in a matter of five days.

On Wednesday morning, redshirt freshman defensive back Rickey Hyatt Jr. put his name in the transfer portal, KSR can confirm. Rivals was first to report the announcement. The 6-foot-2 native of Illinois spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Kentucky, redshirting the first year before making two appearances this past season. Hyatt came to UK as a three-star recruit out of Westerville Central (OH), the same school that produced Benny Snell Jr.

Since Friday, Kentucky has now lost three players to the portal, although it’s not a major surprise. Wide receiver Earnest Sanders IV announced his intention to transfer on Friday while offensive guard RJ Adams did the same on Tuesday. The expectation is that a handful of outgoing transfers would pop up following the conclusion of spring practice.

Hyatt was named to the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll during his true freshman season. He would find the field twice in 2021, making his first college appearance against UT-Chattanooga and recording his first career tackle against New Mexico State. Hyatt doubled as a running back and defensive back at Westerville Central, starting his final three years. He was considered one of the top 40 safeties in the class of 2020 by multiple outlets out of high school.

With Hyatt intending to leave Lexington, he becomes the fourth class of 2020 Kentucky commit to put his name in the portal since the 2021 season came to an end.