Kentucky's offensive coordinator continuity will 'be a plus' in transfer portal recruiting

The Kentucky football program was delivered an unexpected blow when wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts Jr. left the Wildcats this week for Nebraska to join Dana Holgorsen’s new offense in the Big Ten. That was an unexpected hit to Kentucky’s offensive continuity but the SEC program has had wide receivers coaches returning in the past. What this football organization has not had is continuity at offensive coordinator.

Kentucky has not had the same offensive play-caller in consecutive years since Eddie Gran in 2019 and 2020. That has created some issues for the staff when it came to transfer portal recruiting. Rich Scangarello was fired immediately after the 2022 season and Liam Coen could not join the staff until mid-January. Coen helped land targets for the program last offseason before leaving for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February. That created a roster that Bush Hamdan had not part of building. The same result likely will not repeat itself this offseason.

Kentucky has its offensive coordinator entrenched with head coach Mark Stoops making a public commitment to bring back Hamdan for year two in Lexington. Recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow believes that will help the program sell themselves in the transfer portal.

“A lot of times you’d be going in blinded because we didn’t have a coordinator. Going in and also having the same system this time says a lot,” Marrow told KSR. “I think Bush’s system when you really look at it and you look at it on film, for what we’re trying to target and get, I think it’s going to be a good selling point.”

“You gotta have continuity. You guys have been covering us. This will be the second year going in with the offense for two years. I think that’s going to be a plus. Really is.”

Kentucky will be in the market for multiple offensive starters in the transfer portal. There is a big need on the offensive line. The Cats could need as many as three or four new starters in the trenches. There are also needs at quarterback, running back, and tight end. The staff at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility needs to be on the same page and targeting the correct scheme and culture fits. Having some staff continuity despite the unexpected loss of Shorts should help the program as they attempt to complete a sizable roster overhaul.