Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Keelan Marion

adamluckettksr

BYU transfer WR, KR Keelan Marion — BYU transfer wide receiver/kickoff returner Keelan Marion. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

The spring transfer portal window officially opened last week. We did not have to wait long to see Kentucky add to the 2025 roster. We’ve seen some player movement and are expecting more over the next few days. Teams are working rapidly to get targets on campus for visits over the next few weeks to close these fast-paced recruitments.

The Wildcats find themselves back in the wide receiver market in the spring transfer portal window after adding three scholarship transfers in the winter. Could another addition join Hardley Gilmore IV in the spring transfer portal class?

Kentucky has entered the chat for BYU transfer Keelan Marion and is expected to receive a visit from the Greater Atlanta native. KSR’s Bio Blast is taking a closer look at the transfer target.

Three years at UConn

Keelan Marion was an unranked recruit out of Loganville (Ga.) Grayson. The wide receiver enrolled at UConn for the 2020 season. Unfortunately, the Huskies did not field a team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marion stayed at UConn through the 2022 season playing for Randy Edsall and Jim Mora.

As a redshirt freshman in 2021, Marion led the Huskies in targets (65), receptions (28), receiving yards (474), and receiving touchdowns (five). Expectations were high for Marion as a redshirt sophomore in 2022 but the wideout suffered a season-ending injury. That led to the receiver entering the transfer portal after spending three years playing for an FBS independent.

Marion entered the transfer portal and commit to East Carolina before flipping that pledge to BYU.

All-American at BYU

As a redshirt junior at BYU in 2023, Keelan Marion played 358 snaps for BYU with over 90 percent of his playing time coming at outside receiver. The transfer finished the season with 20 receptions for 216 yards in five starts. Marion also averaged 20.7 yards per kick return. That set the table for a big year two.

On a BYU team that finished the season 11-2, Marion played a big role.

🔥 Blazing Speed: The Fastest College Football Plays of Week 11 💨 #ReelSpeed @BYUfootball, WR, Keelan Marion

96-yards and undefeated 😤 20.7 MPH @keelanmarion1 #GoCougs #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/6084TDBLm8
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) November 13, 2024

The veteran receiver was one of the top kick returners in college football. Marion averaged 26.2 yards per kick return and scored two return touchdowns. The wideout also produced 24 receptions on 41 targets for 346 yards and another touchdown. Marion served as a WR3 in the Big 12 who could flip games on special teams and provide some splash plays as a rusher.

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Marion enters the transfer portal with 76 career receptions for 1,125 yards and seven touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns on 4.5 yards per rush, and a career 23.2 average on kick returns.

Coveted recruitment

For the first time in his football career, Keelan Marion is receiving a ton of high major interest. The transfer already has multiple visits scheduled.

BYU All-American transfer WR/KR Keelan Marion is currently set to visit these 4 schools, he tells @on3sports

His schedule is as follows:

•Arizona State: April 22
•SMU: April 24
•Miami: April 25
•Tennessee: April 26

(Schedule is subject to change)https://t.co/N8tDFdeBDU pic.twitter.com/eyVkrIAcUy
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 22, 2025

Arizona State got the first visit with scheduled stops this week set to occur with SMU, Miami, and Tennessee. Kentucky is also expected to receive a visit. This recruiting battle is heated and could get expensive for a player whose biggest value might be as a returner.

Luckett’s scouting notebook

Keelan Marion (6-0, 195) was a primary outside receiver at UConn and BYU who also shined as a kick returner in Provo. The transfer with one year of eligibility remaining has played over 1,500 career snaps and has received over 150 targets.

This is an experienced wideout who can impact the game on special teams. This is my scouting write-up on the Big 12 transfer.

Keelan Marion played primarily outside receiver with some slot usage in BYU’s RPO spread scheme under offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. Most action came in the quick game on screens. With the ball in his hands, Marion shows acceleration and the ability to run by defenders when there is space. That really shows up as a kick returner when he can find a crease and hit another gear. Was used as an extension of the run game on jet sweeps where his acceleration can be highlighted.

Marion is an older receiver product who still needs polish in route-running but brings a gadget skill set to the table. The Big 12 transfer can create on schemed-up touches (screens, jet sweeps, reverses) and has the long speed to potentially be a vertical weapon. Biggest value is on special teams where his long speed was put to good use as a returner. When there is space created, defenders can be in trouble.

A versatile outside receiver with positional versatility who has some big-play pop with the ball in his hands.