Kentucky WR Hardley Gilmore enters transfer portal

Kentucky lost one of its rising stars on the final day of the transfer portal until it reopens in the spring. Former four-star wide receiver Hardley Gilmore, ranked No. 367 overall and the No. 56 player at his position in 2024, has decided to explore his options.

On3’s Pete Nakos broke the news Saturday morning.

Kentucky wide receiver Hardley Gilmore has entered the transfer portal, @On3sports has learned.

Was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. https://t.co/VxSGJEUisH pic.twitter.com/osM3qLWWhZ

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) December 28, 2024

Gilmore racked up 153 yards and a touchdown on six catches in five games, missing the first seven outings after suffering a broken collarbone during a preseason scrimmage. He picked up at least one catch in all five matchups, averaging 25.5 yards per reception while also rushing for nine yards on a single carry.

Originally choosing Kentucky over the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, Penn State and Michigan, among others, the blue-chip recruit immediately turned heads upon his arrival, earning massive praise from the coaching staff as a long-term impact piece in Lexington.

“He is in my opinion as complete of a young receiver as I’ve been around,” Bush Hamdan said in August. “He’s got top-end speed, he’s a good route-runner, he’s tough, he’s physical. There’s a lot of things there. Every once in a while you get these freshmen where they don’t even recognize the lights. They don’t know if it’s big lights, small lights, they don’t know what it is. They’re just excited to be in the SEC at a place like Kentucky playing for Coach Stoops and he kinda had that vibe. There’s no, ‘I gotta save myself for a long year.’ He knew one speed.

“If we can get him healthy and can consistently take that mindset, I think the world of Hardley Gilmore.”

The Kentucky staff will have to think the world of him wearing another school’s uniform.