Kentucky Offers Ja'Mori Maclin, North Texas WR Transfer

Kentucky is pursuing one of the most productive players in the transfer portal. Former North Texas wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin announced Thursday afternoon that he’s received a scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky.

Maclin wracked up receptions this fall in the American Athletic Conference. The explosive 5-foot-11 wideout caught 57 passes for 1,004 yards (third in AAC) and 11 touchdowns (2nd in AAC). He had 11 receptions of 30+ yards, three more than any other player in the AAC.

He is the younger cousin of Missouri great, Jeremy Maclin. The Illinois native followed the family tradition and began his college football career in Columbia. Maclin appeared in three games for the Tigers during the shortened 2020 football season, including one game in Lexington, but was sidelined by an injury the following year and chose to transfer. With a redshirt year and the Covid waiver, Maclin will have two years of eligibility remaining.

One of the most sought after playmakers to enter his name into the portal, Kentucky is one of five Power Five scholarship offers Maclin shared Thursday afternoon. Penn State, Ole Miss, Michigan State and Cincinnati are also in the mix.

After watching some of his highlights, it’s easy to understand why he’s a prized recruit in the transfer portal.

Recruiting Maclin Does Not Mean What You Think It Means

There’s a large segment of the Big Blue Nation that is waiting for the news to drop that Barion Brown is entering the transfer portal. Internet sleuths will use this as proof that Kentucky has already moved on and is looking for Brown’s replacement.

The recruitment of Ja’Mori Maclin has no impact whatsoever on what Barion Brown will do this offseason.

Tayvion Robinson was the only wide receiver in the Kentucky rotation that played more than two years of college football. Robinson caught 37 passes in 2023 for four touchdowns and 507 yards, the second-most on the team. The Wildcats must replace that production somewhere.

Additionally, the wide receiver room is lacking depth, something Mark Stoops reiterated on Monday night’s call-in show. Even with an influx of high school signees, there are only nine wide receivers on next year’s projected roster. Kentucky needs bodies at the position and this one would certainly help.

Ja’Mori Maclin will not be the last wide receiver that enters the Big Blue Nation’s radar, but if this is any indication, Liam Coen is swimming in the right waters.

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