Mark Stoops shares Kentucky’s plan in spring portal window
Roster turnover is just over the horizon for Kentucky football. On Saturday, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops revealed what he expects for the program during the transfer portal’s spring window.
“We’ll see. There’s a lot of things that factor into that, so we’ll see where we’re at,” Stoops said. “We need to lose a few. We need to get to 85 [players], so if I want to gain some, I’ve got to lose a few.”
The spring transfer portal will officially open for underclassmen on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and close on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. This means players have just 15 days to enter. For graduate transfers, the window is extended to May 1, 2024.
Kentucky has lost 14 players in the transfer thus far this offseason while adding 10. The Wildcats have found success, adding three four-star prospects while losing none. The team’s additions are headlined by former Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff and former Georgia linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson.
Kentucky’s hard work in the portal earned the program the No. 11 spot in On3’s Transfer Portal Team Rankings. It’s no surprise to see Stoops and Co. be aggressive in the portal. After all, the program intimately understands how vital transfer pick-ups can be.
Last season, the team added former Vanderbilt running back Ray Davis ahead of the 2023 campaign. Davis was dominant, tallying 199 carries for 1,129 yards (11th on UK’s single-season list) and 14 rushing TDs. He also hauled 33 passes for 323 yards and seven scores, totaling 21 touchdowns, a single-season school record.
Brock Vandagriff impresses at Blue-White Game
Now, Kentucky will look to replicate its success with its latest transfers. Vandagriff certainly got off to a good start on Saturday during Kentucky’s Blue-White Spring Game. The former five-star recruit looked comfortable in the pocket, picking apart UK’s second-team defense for multiple touchdowns.
“Obviously, there’s still room for improvement but overall pleased,” Vandagriff said after the exhibition. “You don’t want to have a bad game because then you think about all summer, all fall. But I think it was pretty solid.”
Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key is undoubtedly excited to work with Vandagriff.
“Just working with Brock, it’s been very fun,” said Key. “He’s a ballplayer and he’s also a really good leader that we’re so happy to have on this team because he just brings a lot to the table.
“With everybody being around him and all the other guys clicking with him, all the other guys on the team, even the defensive guys, are clicking with Brock. And that’s not really normal but he’s such a good leader that everybody on the team is starting to click with him.”