How Kentucky will manage departure of Wan'Dale Robinson

On Wednesday evening, junior wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson announced that he was going to be a one-and-done at Kentucky, The Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills product is off to the NFL.

After signing four high school seniors on signing day and adding Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson into the program, the Wildcats are expected to have 12 scholarship wide receivers in the program next season.

KSR is digging into just how Mark Stoops and his staff will manage this position group moving forward.

No clear top target

When Wan’Dale Robinson announced his transfer from Nebraska, Kentucky immediately solved an issue the program had for a long time. The Wildcats finally had a No. 1 receiver.

The former top-100 recruit played like a blue-chipper, but after just 13 games the All-SEC producer is headed for greener pastures. Now, Kentucky is back in the same boat. However, the roster could have a ton of quality No. 2 options.

Tayvion Robinson finished his career with 113 receptions for 1,555 yards in 35 games over three seasons at Virginia Tech. The former top-500 recruit will enter the 2022 season as Kentucky’s most proven wideout, but we have yet to see WR1 production from the ACC transfer.

The fact of the matter is, Kentucky could attempt to beat defenses with depth rather than a target monster. In 2021, Wan’Dale Robinson’s target share of 41.13 percent was one of the highest marks in college football. That should change next season.

The Wildcats will get tight end Keaton Upshaw back from injury, and the versatile skill talent should be a heavy part of the passing game. Izayah Cummings received 30 targets in 2021 in limited playing time. The flex tight end could turn into a mismatch that Kentucky can use often. Out of the backfield, JuTahn McClain could be used in multiple ways in the passing game. Expect more of that after the tailback had to miss the first month of the 2021 season.

Meanwhile, good recruiting should start to pay off next season. Both Chris Lewis and Chauncey Magwood got their feet wet this past year. Dekel Crowdus was a player who was going to contribute before suffering a knee injury in fall camp. Barion Brown and Dane Key seem to have the ability to play as rookies.

Kentucky should rely on strength in numbers next season.

Selective portal tracking

Each year, college football teams get 85 scholarships to distribute throughout their program. Roster management and scholarship distribution are perhaps the most important job that any head coach has.

Spending more than 12 scholarships at wide receiver is probably not in the cards. However, that could change if a true difference-maker emerges.

As of right now, Kentucky could very well sit pat. That could all change if a player that can be a legitimate starter with all-conference ability shows up as a possibility.

Attrition never sleeps

Due to the transfer portal, roster management is a job that lasts 247/365. College football teams are always in flux. Positions of strength could become positions of weakness at any moment.

Currently, Kentucky has seen 11 players enter the transfer portal since the end of the season. More could happen after spring practice.

Getting to that 85 scholarship number is a very fluid operation in today’s college football. Don’t be surprised if Kentucky takes a swing on a player in the portal due to expected roster attrition to come at some point later in the offseason.

Roster projections in January are a difficult task. There are still a lot of hoops to jump through before the summer months get here and rosters are locked in. Currently, Kentucky appears to be in a good spot.

The Wildcats must replace a program legend. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen and wide receivers coach Scott Woodward will have options.