There are many different opinions about the new facet of college football that allows players to leave their school and go to another school, while being immediately eligible. The NCAA Transfer Portal has changed the landscape in college football. Some teams have felt it’s effects in a negative way, like Texas A&M, losing recruits in bunches. Other schools have used the Transfer Portal to completely overhaul their roster. The Kentucky Wildcats fall somewhere in between those two extremes.
The 2022 Transfer Portal season was good to the Wildcats, based on the fact that Coach Mark Stoops’ Wildcats had a net gain in players going to and coming from Power 5 schools. Kentucky was one of only a few schools to do this. While Kentucky lost three players to P5 schools, they gained five players from P5 schools. Here is a breakdown of the Wildcats activity in the Transfer Portal:
TRANSFERRING OUT (13):
CHAUNCEY MAGWOOD
Position: Wide Receiver
Transferring to: Central Florida
DEMARCUS HARRIS
Position: Wide Receiver
Transferring to: Marshall
CHRIS LEWIS
Position: Wide Receiver
Transferring to: Troy
KAVOSIEY SMOKE
Position: Running Back
Transferring to: Colorado
RAHSAAN LEWIS
Position: Wide Receiver
Transferring to: TBD
KEATON UPSHAW
Position: Tight End
Transferring to: Georgia Southern
TAE TAE CRUMES
Position: Wide Receiver
Transferring to: TBD
JOHN YOUNG
Position: Offensive Tackle
Transferring to: Miami (OH)
ADRIAN HUEY
Position: Defensive Back
Transferring to: TBD
MIKE DRENNEN II
Position: Running Back
Transferring to: TBD
KIYAUNTA GOODWIN
Position: Offensive Lineman
Transferring to: TBD
JUSTIN ROGERS
Position: Defensive Lineman
Transferring to: Auburn
KOBI ALBERT
Position: Defensive Back
Transferring to: Mississippi State
TRANSFERRING IN (7):
TANNER BOWLES
Position: Offensive Lineman
Transferring in from: Alabama
MARQUES COX
Position: Offensive lineman
Transferring in from: Northern Illinois
JQ HARDAWAY
Position: Cornerback
Transferring in from: Cincinnati
JANTZEN DUNN
Position: Cornerback
Transferring in from: Ohio State
DEVIN LEARY
Position: Quarterback
Transferring in from: NC State
RE'MAHN (RAY) DAVIS
Position: Running Back
Transferring in from: Vanderbilt
KEESHAWN SILVER
Position: Defensive Lineman
Transferring in from: North Carolina
Not only did Kentucky win the Transfer Portal in terms of P5 players gained and lost, they drastically improved the roster at several key positions. Non-P5 transfer Marques Cox is a huge addition, literally and figuratively, as he establishes an experienced presence at left tackle. He also allows Kenneth Horsey to go back to left guard, which is another upgrade. Tanner Bowles will play on the right side of the offensive line, improving the talent and depth on that side.
Vince Marrow and Mark Stoops have figured out the Transfer Portal. They have used it to fill immediate needs and have not overused it like some schools. It will continue to be a useful tool in the recruiting tool box and one that many are excited about.