Scholarship Tally: Kentucky has 2 open spots heading into spring football

On Wednesday the first transfer portal window of the offseason will officially end. Upon its arrival, players will not be allowed to entered the transfer portal until May. A huge period of roster building is now over in college football.

At the Joe Craft Football Training Facility, Kentucky added seven FBS transfers to the roster over the six-week period. On Friday, the Wildcats added another high school prospect to the class when high three-star tailback Jamarion Wilcox committed to the Wildcats. Things are coming together as winter workouts are beginning for the Wildcats.

As spring football quickly approaches, we now have a clearer picture of the Kentucky football roster. The Wildcats now have 83 scholarships accounted for. There is some wiggle room and we should probably expect some more attrition once spring football finishes in April.

Let’s dive into Kentucky’s scholarship distribution.

Offense has balance

As of right now, KSR has new offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s second offense with 41 scholarship players as the spring semester is underway at the University of Kentucky. There is balance at every position as this unit seems to be in a good place numbers wise.

— QB (4): Devin Leary (Super), Deuce Hogan (RJr.), Kaiya Sheron (RSo.), Destin Wade (RFr.)

— RB (6): Ramon Jefferson (Super), Ray Davis (RSr.), JuTahn McClain (Sr.), Dee Beckwith (RJr.), La’Vell Wright (RSo.), Jamarion Wilcox (Fr.)

— WR (9): Tayvion Robinson (Super), Dekel Crowdus (RSo.), Barion Brown (So.), Dane Key (So.), Jordan Anthony (RFr.), Brandon White (RFr.), Ardell Banks (Fr.), Anthony Brown (Fr.), Shamar Porter (Fr.)

— TE (7): Brenden Bates (Super), Izayah Cummings (Sr.), Jordan Dingle (RSo.), Josh Kattus (So.), Khamari Anderson (Fr.), Jakob Dixon (Fr.), Tanner Lemaster (Fr.)

— iOL (8): Kenneth Horsey (Super), Tanner Bowles (RSr.), Eli Cox (RSr.), Jager Burton (RSo.), Paul Rodriguez (RSo.), Grant Bingham (RFr.), Koby Keenum (Fr.), Austin Ramsey (Fr.)

— T (7): Marques Cox (Super), Jeremy Flax (RSr.), Deondre Buford (RJr.), Josh Jones (RJr.), David Wohlabaugh Jr. (RSo.), Nikolas Hall (RFr.), Malachi Wood (Fr.)

We are still waiting on an official announcement from Ramon Jefferson, but all signs seem to point to the former FCS transfer returning for one more year with a medical redshirt. Add in the returning announcements from Brenden Bates and Tayvion Robinson and that gives Kentucky a super senior in every position room. That helps create a very balanced offense that will have its fair share of freshman and sophomore contributors.

Kentucky could still look for a backup quarterback and still address right tackle, but the offense is in good shape after adding four transfers and signing 10 high school prospects.

Defense addressed depth

For defensive coordinator Brad White, Kentucky was set to get most of its top-15 defense back in 2023 but the program had two surprising departures. Carrington Valentine decided to enter the NFL Draft and Justin Rogers entered the transfer portal and landed at Auburn. That pulled two starters off of the defense.

Kentucky’s coaching staff addressed both cornerback and defensive tackle in the transfer portal.

— DL (11): Josaih Hayes (Sr.), Sam Anaele (RJr.), Darrion Henry-Young (RJr.), Octavious Oxendine (RJr.), Tre’vonn Rybka (RJr.), Jamarius Dinkins (RSo.), Kahlil Saunders (RSo.), Keeshawn Silver (RSo.), Deone Walker (So.), Tomiwa Durojaiye (RFr.), Tavion Gadson (Fr.)

— EDGE (6): J.J. Weaver (RSr.), Keaten Wade (So.), Tyreese Fearbry (RFr.), Noah Matthews (RFr.), Grant Godfrey (Fr.), Tommy Ziesmer (Fr.)

— LB (5): Luke Fulton (RSr.), D’Eryk Jackson (RJr.), Martez Thrower (Jr.), Trevin Wallace (Jr.), Jayvant Brown (Fr.)

— CB (9): Andru Phillips (RJr.), Jantzen Dunn (RSo.), Maxwell Hairston (RSo.), Jordan Robinson (RSo.), JQ Hardaway (So.), Elijah Reed (RFr.), Andre Stewart (RFr.), Nasir Addison (Fr.), Avery Stuart (Fr.)

— S (8) Taj Dodson (RSr.), Jalen Geiger (RSr.), Zion Childress (Sr.), Vito Tisdale (RJr.), Jordan Lovett (RSo.), Alex Afari (So.), Jaremiah Anglin (Fr.), Ty Bryant (Fr.)

Kentucky added both Jantzen Dunn and JQ Hardaway to compete for a starting spot at cornerback out of the transfer portal before signing day. In January, the program was able to land Keeshawn Silver to replace Justin Rogers. The Cats responded to the surprise losses and addressed the roster with transfers.

Meanwhile, the coaching staff signed eight high school prospects and has a well-rounded group on paper led by the safety position which boasts excellent depth. Adding another player at off-ball linebacker could be something the staff looks at in May.

What does Kentucky do with special teams?

New special teams coach Jay Boulware is on campus working for Kentucky. The long-time college assistant at Auburn, Oklahoma, and Texas is currently in the process of evaluating the specialists on the roster. Assuming Chance Poore returns for one more year, the Cats currently have three on scholarship.

— Specialists (3): Chance Poore (Super), Wilson Berry (RSo.), Jackson Smith (RFr.)

The biggest order of business after spring football for Kentucky will be to figure out if the program needs to spend a scholarship on a transfer punter or kicker.