Kentucky Wildcats Win The Transfer Portal

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.