Kentucky Remains in an Eligibility Holding Pattern with WR Tru Edwards

Tru Edwards looked like one of the best offseason additions to the Kentucky football roster. There was just one problem: Kentucky never officially announced his addition to the roster.

Edwards officially visited Lexington in January and was one of the last players to commit to Kentucky in the winter transfer portal window, announcing his intent to join the program on Jan. 13, just a few days before the drop/add deadline. Ten days later, Kentucky’s social media accounts welcomed all of the new guys, except Edwards. On the spring football roster, there’s a Kalen Edwards, but no Tru Edwards.

So, what’s the deal? I asked Mark Stoops that question Tuesday morning.

“Nationally, some guys are working through what gets approved by the NCAA for these extra years and what does not. You may know better than me because some people get approved, and others don’t,” said Stoops. “I don’t know what we’re looking for.”

Edwards is a Shreveport native who began his career in the junior college ranks. He eventually landed at Hawaii, then moved back to Louisiana and spent three years at La. Tech. He planned to end his college career in 2024. Then Diego Pavia filed a lawsuit that paved the way for him and other former JUCO products to receive another year of eligibility. The NCAA is expected to make this a precedent and apply a blanket waiver for all JUCO players who participated during certain years, but they have not taken definitive action.

“The shock of it, it changes the numbers all the time. Adapt and deal with it,” Stoops said. “But for certain players, you would think it’s a no-brainer for them to get the year if certain others do. There’s so much going on, that’s just one piece of it.”

It sounds like Mark Stoops believes his wide receiver checks all of the boxes to get eligible and isn’t sure why that hasn’t happened yet.

The Cats could really use him. In 2024, Edwards led Louisiana Tech in receiving and was a First-Team All-Conference-USA selection. He led the league in receptions (84) and was second in receiving yards (986). After spending two years on the outside, the 6-foot-4 pass-catcher moved inside and caught six touchdown passes, including this monstrous score.

WHAT A CATCH AND RUN @LATechFB pic.twitter.com/d0NQID7tce

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 9, 2024

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