Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Jaden Williams

The winter transfer portal window officially opened 13 days ago. We’ve seen some heavy player movement and are expecting some more. Teams are working rapidly to secure commitments and get players enrolled in school for the spring semester.

Kentucky addressed the defensive line for the first time in the free agency market on Friday evening. Before a trip to Georgia could be made, Wyoming defensive tackle transfer Jaden Williams committed to UK.

Let’s work! pic.twitter.com/2GwzxECIU7

— Jaden Williams (@jadenc_williams) December 20, 2024

The Mountain West transfer also had visits scheduled with Minnesota, Kansas State, and Arizona State. Kentucky has found another defensive tackle to plug into the rotation.

KSR’s Bio Blast is taking a close look at the lineman who should have a clear role in the Kentucky trench rotation in Week 1.

Unranked recruit from Southern California

Jaden Williams was a defensive tackle prospect in the 2022 high school recruiting cycle. The prospect starred at Studio City (Calif.) Campbell Hall. Williams recorded 70 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and an interception as a senior.

However, the Southern California native went completely under the radar and became an ranked recruit. Williams would pick Wyoming over Nevada and UNLV to begin his collegiate career in the Mountain West.

Productive redshirt sophomore

Jaden Williams appeared in three games for Wyoming and preserved his redshirt as a true freshman in 2022. The defensive tackle played only four snaps in year one for the Cowboys. As a redshirt freshman, Williams appeared in only five games (21 snaps) over the season.

Then a leap was made in year three.

Williams played in all 12 games for Wyoming in 2024. The redshirt sophomore recorded 28 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 12 pressures, and played 305 snaps. After three years in Laramie, Williams decided to enter the transfer portal and quickly generated interest from multiple power conference programs with Arizona State, Kansas State, Minnesota, and Georgia all involved in this recruitment.

Luckett’s scouting notebook

Kentucky’s run defense became a fairly big issue in the last half of the 2024 season with multiple tailbacks setting career highs. That has to get corrected this offseason. Jaden Williams gives defensive coordinator Brad White and defensive line coach Anwar Stewart another player with size and experience to play in the defensive line rotation.

This is my scouting write-up on the Mountain West transfer who should immediately fill snaps at the defensive tackle spot in Kentucky’s odd front.

Jaden Williams (6-4, 290) played defensive tackle in Wyoming’s even front. Was utilized some at nose when Wyoming shifted into odd fronts. Interior defensive lineman with a skinny lower half but shows strong punch power out of his stance. Owns good mobility in stunts and pursuit but did give ground in isolation against guards and centers when fitting the run. Fights reach blocks well. Can win in one-on-one pass rush against guards. Shows quick hands and movement skills give him an intriguing rush foundation.

Long defensive tackle that needs to get stouter against the run, but provides some positional flexibility, and owns an intriguing pass rush skill set.