Transfer Portal Diaries: Recallibrating Following First Wave of Commits

The transfer portal is a chaotic time for college football fans. Allow KSR to deliver your daily morning dose of Kentucky football transfer portal news in the most ridiculous manner possible.

We’re starting a new week, which is expected to be the most eventful yet. Most players in the transfer portal want to wrap up their visits and make a decision before the holiday break, which for most teams includes a trip to a bowl game. Before we get to what’s next, the first wave of news hit with three new Kentucky football additions.

Kentucky Gets First Four Commitments

About a quarter of the Cats’ projected 2025 transfer portal class publicly pledged their allegiance to the Wildcats. The biggest gets were on the offensive line.

Alex Wollschlaeger was a two-time All-MAC selection who developed into a captain for Bowling Green. Ole Miss and a few other big names were trying to get involved, but Kentucky sealed the deal during a visit this weekend to find its next right tackle. Joshua Braun started his career at Florida before becoming a Second-Team All-SEC guard for Arkansas in 2023. He’ll be a starter on the Kentucky offensive line next fall.

Similar to Braun, Landyn Watson started his career at TCU before the linebacker emerged as a starter for the Sun Belt Champs. This fall for Marshall he had 69 tackles, four tackles for a loss, an interception, and a forced fumble.

“My goal is obviously bringing a winning culture to the locker room with some of my other teammates,” Watson told KSR+. “I want to be able to make plays, bring a lot of value to this university, and put this university back on top.”

USC EDGE Sam Greene flashed as a rotational player during his redshirt freshman season. He’ll most likely have a similar role next fall at Kentucky, providing some much-needed help with the depleted depth in that position room. See more of his game in the KSR Film Room.

Targets Commit Elsewhere

Brice Pollock — There was mutual interest for the Mississippi State cornerback, but he found a landing spot in Lubbock at Texas Tech.

Hosea Wheeler — It’s unclear how advanced the talks were between Kentucky and the WKU defensive lineman, but he ultimately decided not to waste anytime and committed to Indiana.

Chris Stevens — The Illinois State defensive lineman had a visit to Kentucky scheduled for this week, but he didn’t make it out of Minnesota without rowing the boat.

Transfer Portal Players to Watch

Ahmad Hardy, ULM RB — The best running back available in the transfer portal has NFL potential. He already spent time at Ole Miss. Kentucky needs to survive the next 48 hours. If they can get him to campus on Thursday, there’s a good chance he’s a Cat.

Derek Simmons, Western Carolina, OT — He’s expected to start a visit to Kentucky today, but Pitt might be a tough one to beat. His former OL coach is currently at Pittsburgh. Georgia Tech and Texas Tech are also in the mix.

Horatio Fields, Wake Forest, WR — Duke is the one to watch. He’s visited once and plans on making a return trip after visiting South Carolina and Auburn. He recapped his UK trip with Jacob Polacheck. “I like what the SEC has to offer,” Fields told KSR+. “The main thing was the coaches.”

Justin Bowick, Ball State WR — The 6-foot-5 X-receiver was productive before suffering a season-ending injury. He’ll visit Penn State and Illinois after a trip to Kentucky.

Jay’Viar Suggs, LSU, DT — Kentucky recruited Suggs in the transfer portal last spring before the FCS player ultimately landed at LSU. He shared on Sunday night that he’s “focusing” on seven schools and Kentucky is one of them.

Chris Murray, Sam Houston State, EDGE — The list of EDGE targets is growing smaller and smaller. Kentucky needs to get to the closing table when he visits later this week.

Reginald Hughes, Jacksonville State, LB — Colorado, Mississippi State, and Michigan State are the. top contenders. He’s visiting Kentucky Dec. 19.

Evan Wibberley, WKU, C — Some players are juggling bowl games differently than others. Although his name is not officially in the transfer portal, he’s told KSR that he plans on visiting Kentucky the day after the Tops play James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Devonte Ross, Troy, WR — It’s unclear if Kentucky will pursure the all-conference player who entered the transfer portal on Monday, but Ross did initially commit to UK as a high school recruit. Ross had 1,043 receiving yards for 11 touchdowns this fall and a punt return touchdown.

Jaden Yates, Marshall, LB — Kentucky already got one Marshall linebacker, why not get ’em both? We cannot confirm a visit, but there’s some stuff happening between the two sides.

Gunnar Hansen, Vanderbilt, OT — Hansen is beginning his visit tour at Florida State. The Cats gotta survive the trip to Tallahassee to get a chance at the closing table in Lexington.

Wallace Unamba, New Mexico, OT — Kentucky and Virginia will each get visits this week.

No Clear Quarterback Target

That was a lot of players and none of them were quarterbacks. Mark Stoops made it clear that they’re going to get one in this cycle to join the three freshmen on the roster. So, what gives? Kentucky’s next quarterback most likely isn’t in the transfer portal yet. We’ll continue to paitiently play the waiting game until the right target emerges.

Keep your head on a swivel.

UPDATE: We say “keep your head on a swivel” because within the last 30 minutes KSR has received confirmation that Maalik Murphy is expected to visit Kentucky this week. The former Texas QB completed 60% of his passes for 2,933 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for Duke last fall. He’s one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the transfer portal.