Kentucky Football 2023 Transfer Portal Tracker: Significant Weekend Developments
Welcome to the 2023 Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker. Bookmark this post as Kentucky Sports Radio continuously provides updates throughout this wild offseason. It will feature which players are transferring to and from Kentucky, as well as share potential targets Mark Stoops and Co. are eyeing throughout the process.
The transfer portal is not new to college athletics, but this year it’s operating at a greater scale than ever before. Originally established in Oct. 2018, the new calendar cycle within the portal begins each August. There are now transfer portal windows for football players to enter, opening Dec. 4 for 45 days until it closes on Jan. 17, 2024. Players can enter the portal and transfer to another school, or withdraw their name and return. Each college athlete now gets one free transfer and retains eligibility for the following season.
Last year around 20 Kentucky football players left via the portal in the winter and spring windows, with 13 new arrivals for the 2023 season. You can expect comparable numbers as Mark Stoops builds his 2024 Kentucky football roster.
In addition to KSR’s Transfer Portal Tracker, you can follow every move around college football with the On3’s Transfer Portal wire and by following On3’s Transfer Portal account on Twitter.
Dec. 17: Significant Weekend Developments
The final recruiting weekend of the year has come and gone. Once the clock strikes midnight, coaches can no longer have face-to-face contact with respective recruits, both from the high school ranks and the transfer portal. It’s officially closing time and KSR is here to break it all down.
Kentucky could have an Answer at LB
The wind got knocked out of the BBN’s sails when he learned Friday night that Trevin Wallace was leaving school early to pursue the NFL Draft. On Sunday we learned that Kentucky is aggressively seeking his successor in the transfer portal.
Florida IOL Jalen Farmer and Georgia LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson are just two of the confirmed official visitors from over the weekend and the latter is the best inside linebacker available. In 2022 he was a First Team All-American. That’s pretty, pretty good. One of a few surprising departures from the Dawgs’ defense, he entered the portal on Friday, was in Lexington on Saturday, then traveled to Auburn on Sunday.
With in-person recruiting eliminated beginning at midnight tonight, it appears to be a two-horse race between the Cats and the Tigers for the former All-American. Farmer, a player Kentucky recruited in high school, is choosing between Kentucky and Tennessee.
Another Wide Receiver to Watch
As we told you just a few days ago here on the KSR Transfer Portal Tracker, Kentucky’s work with wide receivers in the transfer portal is not complete. Matthew Golden was taken off the board when the former Houston pass-catcher committed to Texas. There’s another AAC athlete you need to keep an eye on, Chris Brazzell.
Kentucky is one of 38 schools that has been in contact with the 6-foot-5 wide receiver. Last fall he caught 44 passes for 711 Yards and 5 touchdowns. KSR will be closely monitoring Brazzell’s next move over the next 72 hours.
Big Move in the SEC
Juice Wells was one of the top pass-catchers in the SEC in 2022. He finished fifth in the league with 968 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 68 receptions. South Carolina only had him for two games in 2023 thanks to a lingering foot injury. Wells is moving on to play for Lane Kiffin’s high-flying offense at Ole Miss.
Kentucky will travel to Oxford next fall to face a team that is bringing back a ton of talent following a New Year’s Six appearance. The Rebels will have Jaxson Dart at quarterback with most of his offensive weapons. They also added a DB from Illinois and Tennessee DB Tamarion McDonald. They’re getting gluttonous with EDGE talent. They already landed Tyler Baron (Tennessee) and Princely Umanmielen (Florida). Now Ole Miss is the favorite for Walter Nolen, the Texas A&M defensive lineman that might be the best overall player in the portal. Sheesh!
South Carolina might have their QB
Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson officially entered the transfer portal on Saturday. Most were operating under the assumption that he’d be quick to team back up with Dowell Loggains at South Carolina. The Gamecocks actually have another passer in their crosshairs.
On3’s Pete Nakos has submitted an On3 RPM pick for former Vanderbilt signal-caller AJ Swann to land at South Carolina. Swann also took a visit to LSU during the recruiting process. He flashed in two years but struggled to find consistency in Nashville. Hopefully this move keeps KJ away from the clutches of Shane Beamer.
Louisville Piles up Portal Players
Jeff Brohm is leaning into the transfer portal to build his roster at UofL. The Cards have 15 high school commits. They’ve added seven players from the transfer portal since Friday.
On3 ranked South Alabama’s Caullin Lacy as the No. 1 pass-catcher in the transfer portal. They also added a former five-star wide receiver from Alabama, Ja’Corey Brooks. This weekend’s portal haul also includes a running back from Miami and an Ohio State interior offensive lineman.
Dec. 16: Jordan Dingle is Back
For the second time in a week, Kentucky received a significant addition in the form of an unexpected return. Last week Shamar Porter removed his name from the transfer portal. This week it’s Jordan Dingle. The Kentucky tight end was reportedly planning to visit Tennessee this weekend. Instead, he announced that he’s back in Kentucky blue, solidifying the Cats’ talented tight end room.
Dec. 13: The Peak of the First Wave of Kentucky Additions
The transfer portal comes in waves. Kentucky put a handful of players in their crosshairs during the first week and has seemingly nailed it. They got their guy at quarterback, then Brock Vandagriff helped the Cats secure a commitment from Ja’Mori Maclin, one of the most productive wide receivers in the transfer portal. Chip Trayanum fills another big void at running back. They also got a commitment from a Texas A&M wide receiver, but the Cats might not be done.
Like Shamar Porter, Raymond Cottrell will be a redshirt freshman with four years of eligibility. Both are big X-receivers and one will likely see a chunk of snaps this fall, but you should perceive them as long term plays. As the Cats take a few hits to the tight end room, there will be more opportunities for wide receivers and they need six to be ready to play. They’re still one or two away and you may see them address that need in the next week.
After that, the Cats are looking for offensive tackles. That is the next imperative, followed by the best available on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage. We’re also still keeping an eye on CB DeCarlos Nicholson. The Cats currently have four transfer portal additions. When Mark Stoops announces his signing class next week that number may be closer to seven. Stay tuned.
Dec. 12: Cole Lanter Moving On
Many kids grow up dreaming to play for Kentucky. The Boyle County product got to live that dream for a couple of seasons. A preferred walk-on, he got to celebrate in the Kroger Field end zone with a blackflip after catching a touchdown. He worked his tail off and earned a scholarship this summer. He’ll find significant snaps at a lower level. I wouldn’t be surprised if CJ Conrad tried to get him to Richmond. Lanter will find success where ever he lands next.
Dec. 11: Elijah Reed Hits the Transfer Portal
Elijah Reed was a wide receiver that used a COVID waiver in high school to switch positions. He worked out with Kiyaunta Goodwin at Aspirations Gym and was a late take as somewhat of package deal. He started his career at cornerback during his redshirt season. This fall he moved to safety and was on the two-deep, but primarily played special teams. The PRP product will look for playing time elsewhere.
Dec. 10: Jamarius Dinkins commits to Purdue
The first former Kentucky player has made a commitment. Defensive tackle Jamarius Dinkins was not in the transfer portal long before finding a new home. The Columbus (Ohio) Walnut Ridge product is headed to the Big Ten.
The former-three star recruit committed to Purdue on Sunday afternoon. Dinkins will be a redshirt junior in 2024 with two years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 8: Huge Moves for Wide Receivers
If you thought we were going to have a Friday night without a big-time developing story, think again. Kentucky got not one, but two pieces of good news for its wide receiver room.
First and foremost: Shamar Porter is back. People forget that players can enter, and exit the portal. It’s rare, but that’s the case here. The former four-star recruit, Kentucky’s highest-ranked signee in the 2023 recruiting class, has removed his name from the transfer portal, signaling that he will return to UK for the 2024 season.
But wait — THERE’S MORE!
Kentucky has not two, but THREE wide receivers in Lexington for official visits. Ja’Mori Maclin, an explosive route-runner from North Texas who began his career at Missouri, shared on social media that he made the trip up to Kentucky. Members of the UK coaching staff visited with him during the week. He’s returning the favor as Donaven McCulley (Indiana) and Raymond Cottrell (Texas A&M) check out the Cats’ campus.
Kentucky is looking for at least two transfer portal additions to the wide receiver room. The numbers appear to be on the Cats’ side during the first significant weekend of visits during college football free agency.
Dec. 7: Jordan Dingle Shakes Up Tight End Room
Jordan Dingle was one of the many success stories from Kentucky’s talented 2021 recruiting class. A four-star talent and a top five recruit from the Commonwealth, he burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman by catching 20 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Limited by injuries this fall, Josh Kattus took a lion’s share of the TE1 reps. That is ultimately why Dingle is seeking greener pastures.
Even though Liam Coen runs quite a bit of 12 personnel (two tight ends, one running back), there are still only so many snaps that can be distributed around Vince Marrow’s talented tight end room. He got flagged far too often, but Kattus is the Cats’ best blocker in the room and he showed enough in the route tree to remain on the field. Khamari Anderson, an Under Armour All-American a year ago, flashed in his first appearance, hurdling a Louisville defender for a first down.
Of all the outgoing players in the transfer portal, this is the most shocking. Dingle was a great kid in the locker room and a solid contributor on the field. He’ll most likely be a starter at the Power Five level. Vince Marrow is investing in Josh Kattus and young talent to ensure the tight end room doesn’t miss a beat.
Dec. 5: Kaiya Sheron Goes Portaling
The former Somerset quarterback became the second to hit the transfer portal this offseason, joining Destin Wade on the departures list. Following the Kaiya Sheron news, one begins to wonder how many quarterbacks the Cats will have available next fall. Deuce Hogan announced his intent to be a grad transfer, but quickly deleted that Tweet. Perhaps there’s been a change of heart for the former Iowa QB?
Dec. 5: No News is Good News
The transfer portal opened and heads were rolling. More than 1,100 players entered into college football free agency on Monday, including four from the University of Kentucky. The waiver wire slowed down following the rabid opening day, but there are still a couple of noteworthy players making moves.
— One player we missed from Kentucky that entered the portal on Monday is Heath Jehu. You’re probably asking yourself, “Je-who?” He is the punter that was signed late by new special teams coordinator Jay Boulware. One of three on the roster, despite Wilson Berry‘s struggles the true freshman never saw any snaps. The field goal kicking and return units were improved under Boulware’s guidance, but the punting unit was the worst in the SEC.
— Lexington native Beau Allen is back in the transfer portal for the third straight offseason. Once Will Levis won the starting job, he bolted for Tarleton State. The WAC Newcomer of the Year parlayed that success into a spot at Georgia Southern. However, he wasn’t the only transfer on the roster. Davis Brin, formerly of Tulsa, tallied more than 3,400 yards and 22 touchdowns this fall, squeezing Allen out once again. Now attempting to attend his fourth school in as many years, he’ll need a waiver to be able to play next fall.
Dec. 4 (3:25 pm EST): EDGE Outlook Following Wade’s Departure
Keaten Wade did in fact decide to join his brother for some portal shopping this offseason. The former four-star is leaving Lexington after logging significant snaps for two seasons at EDGE. He ranked tenth in total snaps this year, playing alongside and alternating with JJ Weaver. He tallied 35 tackles, 3.0 for loss and 1 sack and ranked seventh in overall defensive grades by PFF.
Kentucky has recruited the EDGE position about as well as any position on the team. Jacob Smith and Brian Robinson will have a role on next year’s defense as true freshmen. Kentucky has lacked juice in its pass rush and Wade’s classmate, Tyreese Fearbry, is projected to provide that next fall. Weaver has also not said anything about his future yet, leaving a potential return on the table. Although it’s disappointing to lose a savvy player with a high football IQ, Kentucky should be able to withstand the loss at EDGE.
— Martez Thrower is leaving the University of Kentucky. The three-star linebacker from Georgia never filled into his lengthy frame, tallying just 14 tackles this fall, primarily on special teams. Similar to EDGE, Kentucky has recruited inside linebacker well. If Trevin Wallace sticks around for another season, the Cats should be just fine.
Texas A&M transfer wide receiver Raymond Cottrell shared the above message on social media Monday afternoon. Like Shamar Porter, Cottrell was a four-star, top 300 outside wide receiver prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. His only reception as a true freshman was a 13-yard touchdown. He’s another wide receiver to keep on your radar throughout this chaotic transfer portal season.
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Dec. 4 (Early Afternoon): Big-Time QB Goes Portaling
A year ago there were two back-ups at prominent schools linked to Liam Coen as potential transfer options. They both dipped their toes into the transfer portal waters on Monday.
Ohio State’s Kyle McCord officially submitted his name first thing in the morning. He threw for more than 3,000 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record, but he did not pass muster for many Ohio State fans. The former Ohio State starter is actually not the player most discussed over at KSBoard.
Brock Vandagriff, a former five-star talent, spent the last two seasons on the sideline. Many believed he may bolt in the spring after losing the starting job to Carson Beck. Instead, Vandagriff spent the season backing up Beck and playing sparingly, attempting 18 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in seven games. Now that Beck appears to be back in Athens for another season, the former No. 22 overall recruit in America is seeking greener pastures. According to On3’s Rusty Mansell, he intends to enter his name in the portal with two years of eligbility. KSR will be keeping a close eye on his recruitment in the coming weeks.
Dec. 4 (Morning): Two Kentucky Departures (Maybe More?)
Monday morning kicked off with a pair of entries from the University of Kentucky, WR Shamar Porter and QB Destin Wade. The Nashville natives’ decision to depart could mean a couple of things.
First and foremost, it’s somewhat disheartening that Kentucky’s highest-ranked recruit in the 2023 class will never see the field. Porter checked a lot of the right boxes, then got injured in training camp. However, it actually might forecast good news as far as roster retention in the wide receiver room as UK continues to explore its pass-catching options in the portal.
It was always a long shot that Destin Wade could turn into a Power Five-caliber starting quarterback. Kentucky gave him a shot, he even started in the Music City, but the writing was on the wall. Instead of switching positions to continue to play with his brother, he’ll look elsewhere. Some might speculate that his brother, OLB Keaten Wade, may also explore the portal with his twin, but KSR has heard nothing to indicate that will in fact be the case.
— Grant Bingham‘s name officially entered the portal after he shared his intentions last week on social media.
— Another QB, Deuce Hogan, announced he will seek out a new school as a grad transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. That Tweet was deleted a few minutes later. A former Iowa quarterback, it’s unclear what his future holds.
Dec. 3: Transfer Portal Eve
While folks debate the final CFB Playoff rankings, the rest of the sport prepares for chaos. The transfer portal officially opens tomorrow. Before the action commences, we already know of seven Wildcats who will be on the move. That number will certainly grow in the coming days, as will the number of potential targets for Mark Stoops and Co.
Two important visits have already been scheduled for next weekend and more could soon join the fold. Vince Marrow is targeting former starters at Indiana, left tackle Carter Smith and wide receiver Donaven McCulley. The former is an exceptional pass protector that started in all 12 games this fall as a redshirt freshman. Not only could he add depth to the tackle position, he provides a succession plan for life after Marques Cox. McCulley is an enormous X wide receiver (6-foot-5) that led the Hoosiers in receiving yards (644) and touchdowns (6). There’s NFL Draft potential that Liam Coen would love to have in his locker room in 2024.
Here’s one name KSR will be following closely in the coming days and weeks.
Dec. 1: Two More Kentucky Departures
JuTahn McClain: The change of pace running back provided big plays from time to time, but inconsistency ultimately limited him from getting more touches throughout his four years in Lexington. The Cincinnati athlete ends his career with 801 years from scrimmage and three touchdowns. The third running back to leave this offseason, expect Kentucky to seek reinforcements in the transfer portal.
Luke Fulton: A product of Mark Stoops’ alma mater, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, Fulton was primarily a special teams performer over the last three seasons. Even though Fulton did not see significant snaps, inside linebacker depth will be examined this offseason.
Nov. 29: A Home State Tight End Moves On
Roush — Izayah Cummings became the fifth roster defection of the season when the Louisville native threw his name in the portal as a grad transfer. He made a huge pop when the wide receiver switched positions to tight ends and shined as one of Will Levis’ top options in 2021. His role was essentially eliminated the following year during Rich Scangarello’s regime, and he struggled to crack the rotation until the final two games of the 2023 season. There was speculation a year ago that the Male High School product would return to his hometown and that will likely return in the coming weeks.
State of the Tight End Room: Part of the reason Cummings fell behind is because the guys behind him are pretty damn good. Jordan Dingle took those reps in 2022, then struggled with injuries this fall. Josh Kattus has been an Ass-Kicker. We saw what Khamari Anderson did following his first reception. Vince Marrow will have five tight ends next fall and that should be enough to operate Liam Coen’s offense.
Nov. 28 (6:25 ET): Kentucky Loses One, Adds One on Offensive Line
Roush — Grant Bingham is the latest underclassman to announce plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens Monday, Dec. 4. The Johnson Central product was a four-star talent when the interior offensive lineman picked Kentucky over Notre Dame in the 2022 recruiting class. He enrolled early and redshirted, but never gained enough momentum to enter the rotation. Bingham will have three years of eligibility at his next stop.
Cox Keeps Continuity: The Big Blue Wall will remain mostly intact. Turnover plagued the offensive line, from injuries to position coaches, over the last two seasons. Marques Cox joined Eli Cox Tuesday evening to share that he will be back in Lexington for the 2024 campaign.
The two decisions mean Kentucky will essentially have four of its five starters returning, the most since the 2021 season. Jeremy Flax and Kenneth Horsey are the only departures, and the latter played in just four or five games last fall. Kentucky will still have its head on a swivel for talented offensive linemen when the transfer portal opens, but the return of two big Coxes is making life a lot easier for Liam Coen and co. during free agency.
Nov. 28: QBs Emerge Amid Early Announcements
Roush — Why wait until Dec. 4 if you can let teams know a week in advance that your services will be available? Two Kentucky Wildcats took the initiative on Tuesday.
— DL Jamarius Dinkins was a nice surprise early in his career, by the lengthy nose guard never could crack the two-deep consistently. He’ll have two years to play elsewhere.
— WR Dekel Crowdus was signed with fanfare as a four-star talent from Lexington Frederick Douglass. The four-star talent had top end speed, but failed to turn that into production, catching just four passes in his short career.
While the Cats lost two to the portal, they added one to the roster when Eli Cox announced his return for a Super Senior season. He will be a four-year starter, providing valuable experience on the interior of the Big Blue Wall. The question is, who will he be blocking for?
Kentucky Contacts Quarterbacks: KSR confirmed Kentucky has been in touch with Mississippi State’s Will Rogers and Kansas State’s Will Howard. You probably are well acquainted with the former, but how much do you know about the gunslinger that guided the Wildcats to a Big 12 title?
A 6-foot-5, 245-pound athlete from West Chester, PA, Howard plays a lot like Will Levis. An exceptional athlete, he uses his mobility to get hard yards in zone reads. He has a big arm and made some fearless throws during while completing 60% of his passes and leading K-State to an 18-8 record over the past two seasons. On3’s Pete Nakos reports Washington, Louisville, Missouri and Auburn will also be in the mix for his services.
Nov. 27: The First Kentucky Domino Falls
Roush — The main course will not be served for another week. Today we received an appetizer. Grad transfers and lower division players, like Ivy Leaguers and those from the FCS ranks, can get a head start on the rest of their competition.
Jalen Geiger was the first Wildcat to get the ball rolling and enter the transfer portal. A three-star defensive back from Columbia, South Carolina, Geiger made impact plays early in his career. In 2021 he made a tackle for loss in his hometown to hold the Gamecocks to a field goal attempt. The following year he was flying around the field when he suffered a season-ending injury at Florida. After scoring a touchdown in the opening game of the 2023 season, the injury bug bit again and he struggled to return to top form. He’ll have one year of eligibility and should find a nice landing spot among the power five ranks.
As of 4:30 pm EST there were already 217 names reported in the transfer portal. A few other noteworthy athletes to keep an eye on throughout the process:
- Will Howard, Quarterback, Kansas State
Donaven McCulley, Wide Receiver, Indiana - Spencer Brown, Offensive Tackle, Michigan State
- Will Rogers, Quarterback, Mississippi State
- Jared Casey, Linebacker, Indiana by way of Kentucky
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