Kentucky's Tomiwa Durojaiye enters transfer portal

Make that 16 departing Wildcats since the start of the offseason for Kentucky football. Tomiwa Durojaiye, a redshirt freshman out of Middletown, Delaware, has decided to enter the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-4, 278-pound defensive lineman will have four years of eligibility at his next stop.

“I would like to thank Coach Stoops, Coach White, and the rest of Kentucky football for an unbelievable opportunity,” Durojaiye announced Wednesday morning. “This past year I’ve grown as a person, player and made lifetime friendships and memories. With that being said after much thought and consideration, I will be entering the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility.”

I have officially entered the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility left❤️ pic.twitter.com/ngD3ejlsoN

— Tomiwa Durojaiye (@TomiwaDurojaiye) April 26, 2023

A three-star out of high school, Durojaiye originally picked Kentucky over Michigan, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, West Virginia and Missouri, among others. He was rated as the No. 684 overall prospect and No. 77 defensive lineman in the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

A mid-year enrollee last January, the redshirt freshman played in three games vs. Miami (Ohio), Youngstown State and Iowa. There was hope from Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White that Durojaiye could emerge as a key role piece in 2023 after a strong spring.

“He’s put on the weight,” White said earlier this month. “His twitch and his physicality down there is going to help us. He’s going to give us some twitch internally too from an interior pass rush on third downs.”

On the flip side, Kentucky’s defensive line is deep and a clear team strength going into the season. Deone Walker is a star in the making, while Jamarius Dinkins, Josaih Hayes, and Keeshawn Silver will all compete at nose. Veterans Octavious Oxendine and Tre’vonn Rybka will have defined roles, while former Ohio State transfer Darrion Henry-Young and redshirt junior Sam Anaele will earn playing time, as well.

Durojaiye clearly felt he was on the outside looking in regarding potential reps. He’ll now look for those elsewhere in the portal.