2025 Kentucky Position Previews: Wide Receiver

Kentucky’s fall camp is right around the corner. Before the Cats officially begin the 2025 season, KSR is taking a closer look at the roster and analyzing each position group. Personnel, storylines, questions, and one bold prediction will be included.

Wide receiver is up next where Kentucky where the program completely flipped the position room in the offseason.

Position Preview: Quarterback, Running Back

Expected Starters

Ja’Mori Maclin (5-11, 191, 6th)

Maclin started his career at Missouri where Bush Hamdan was his position coach. After two years in Columbia, the wideout transferred to North Texas and had a breakout year in 2023. Maclin finished the season with 57 receptions for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. The most anticipated offseason addition ahead of 2024 didn’t do much until the end of the season. Maclin caught a 32-yard touchdown at Tennessee, picked up 52 yards at Texas, and scored two touchdowns against Louisville.

Kentucky is now moving Maclin back outside after he spent most of last year in the slot. Will that lead to more production?

Kendrick Law (6-0, 205, Sr.)

A former blue-chip prospect from Louisiana, Law spent the first three years of his college career at Alabama. Many snaps were logged on special teams as a returner. The wideout also recorded 33 receptions for 343 yards during his career in Tuscaloosa. The receiver will be the most physically impressive pass-catcher on the UK roster. Owns a terrific reputation as a blocker.

A true slot with a physical play style. Should be Kentucky’s top option on designed carries (jets, reverses) and the quick passing game.

Hardley Gilmore IV (6-1, 183, So.)

The Pahokee (Fla.) High wideout reclassified from 2025 to join Kentucky’s roster in 2024. The four-star recruit played in seven games (136 snaps) as a true freshman with six receptions for 153 yards. Gilmore surprisingly left for Nebraska during the winter transfer portal window but returned to Lexington in April.

The second-year player might have the highest ceiling in the position room and should be in position to play big snaps this fall.

Kentucky’s Wide Receiver Room

Kentucky has 13 total scholarship wideouts on the roster this season. We could see a heavy rotation with this group after the coaching staff loaded up in the transfer portal this offseason.

J.J. Hester (6-5, 203, 6th)

The former four-star recruit began his career at Missouri and spent two seasons in Columbia. Hester transferred to Oklahoma and spent three seasons in Norman mostly plagued by injuries. The outside receiver was fully healthy in 2024 and posted his best season with 14 receptions for 315 yards. A vertical field stretcher that put explosive plays on tape in SEC games. Durability is a significant concern.

Fred Farrier II (6-1, 188, RSr.)

The Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin County product returned to his home state in 2024 after spending three seasons at UAB. The American Athletic Conference transfer finished the 2024 season with 13 receptions for 126 yards. Farrier now has 42 career catches and is expected to fill a role as a rotational wideout with extensive experience. Owns some positional flexibility.

Troy Stellato (6-1, 184, RSr.)

The South Florida native was recruited by Kentucky out of high school before committing to Clemson. Played in Dabo Swinney‘s program for four seasons. Dealt with injuries but played both inside and outside receiver for the Tigers. Brings 65 career receptions to Lexington. Potential reliable short-to-intermediate target who could be this room’s best route-runner out of the slot.

Ashton Cozart (6-3, 197, RSo.)

A former blue-chip recruit from Texas who signed with Oregon out of high school. Spent one season with the Ducks and one at SMU. Has played in only four games through two seasons. Strong testing numbers at high school camp events (4.45 forty-yard dash, 33-inch vertical, 10’8″ broad jump, and 6-foot-5 wingspan) plus track results (10.96 100m clocked in 2021) indicate that this is a top-end athlete for the wideout position. Potential vertical field stretcher similar to Hester.

David Washington Jr. (5-11, 204, So.)

The Mid-Atlantic native played primarily special teams in year one at Kentucky and enters 2025 with three years of eligibility remaining. Washington seems buried on the depth chart until a strong spring practice revealed that the second-year player could have a real role in this rotation. Brings positional versatility to the table.

Preston Bowman (5-11, 204, Fr.)

The three-star prospect showed excellent ball skills and the ability to win in 50/50 scenarios during a June camp workout at Kentucky that ultimately led to a commitment. Bowman’s tape backs that up. Recorded 59 grabs, 1,248 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns as a senior at Pickerington (Ohio) North. Strong hands, big catch radius, and supreme ball skills. There are some top-end speed concerns, but the ball skills were excellent, and this was a player who flashed the ability to play through contact.

Cameron Miller (5-11, 167, Fr.)

Slot receiver for Atco (N.J.) Winslow Township who recorded over 100 receptions for 2,000-plus yards and 29 touchdowns over his last two seasons of high school football. Owns turbo speed with a terrific combination of acceleration and change of direction. Undersized receiver with tantalizing big-play potential. Flipped from Wisconsin to Kentucky.

DJ Miller (6-3, 204, Fr.)

Highly productive playmaker for St. Louis (Mo.) Cardinal Ritter produced 124 receptions for 2,297 yards and 33 touchdowns during his final two seasons. Big-bodied wideout with a sizable catch radius. True X receiver who made a splash during spring practice. Miller will very likely have a role in this offense.

ok kool….7️⃣@UKFootball @UKCoachStoops @RitterPrep @BrennanSpain #bbn pic.twitter.com/3KyXtNTqBN

— DJ Miller (@dejerrianmiller) February 12, 2025

Montavin Quisenberry (5-10, 170, Fr.)

Undersized wide receiver who is a generator with the ball in his hands. Owns short-area burst and make you miss wiggle. Generated 3,340 yards from scrimmage and 56 total touchdowns as a junior and senior at Danville (Ky.) Boyle County. A versatile playmaker who will need to find a permanent positional home at the next level. Flipped from West Virginia to Kentucky.

Quintin Simmons Jr. (6-1, 171, Fr.)

A speedster from Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow who generated explosive plays with the ball in his hands. Scored touchdowns as a tailback, wide receiver, and returner in high school. Shows real breakaway speed on tape. Long strider that can stretch the field vertically on gos, posts, and deep overs. Has clocked 10.76 in 100 meters.

Big Question: How does playing time shake out?

There is no denying that Kentucky completed a true flip in the wide receiver room this offseason. The Wildcats added five high school signees, five transfers, and bring back just Ja’Mori Maclin, Fred Farrier II, and David Washington Jr. if you count Hardley Gilmore IV as a transfer. Plus there is a new position coach with L’Damian Washington taking over the room.

We are unsure who the top targets will be and what exactly the rotation will look like. One thing that is clear is that Washington and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan have a lot of options.

There should be a highly competitive camp for this position as each player tries to carve out a role. It feels like anything is on the table for this group heading into the year. Kentucky could get old, Kentucky could get young, or Kentucky would employ one of the deepest wide receiver rotations in college football.

Top Storyline: How all of these transfers fit

Offensive line and wide receiver immediately stood out as the two biggest positions for need for Kentucky in the transfer portal. This free agent class will most likely determine the success of this position room in 2025.

Alabama transfer Kendrick Law was a nice recruiting win who will need to fill a key role. Troy Stellato and J.J. Hester must provide quality depth. Hardley Gilmore IV is back and must prove he can be reliable and a true playmaker for this offense.

Fit was a critical box that Kentucky wanted to get checked at this position in the portal. Do all of these pieces fit? It shouldn’t take us long to find out.

Bold Prediction: Kendrick Law goes for 1,100-plus all-purpose yards

Kendrick Law was added to fill the Barion Brown role in the Kentucky offense. The former top-100 recruit brings 33 receptions, 8 carries, and 34 career kickoff returns to Lexington. Law is expected to be a focal point of the offense and should factor as a returner.

Barion Brown set a career-low with 866 all-purpose yards in 2024 as he battled injuries and struggled to get anything rolling on offense. Law will be a more effective rusher, brings some pop as a return man, and has a great chance to lead this team in receptions. The senior with one year of eligibility remaining will be one of the most productive players on this offense.

The 1,110-yard threshold was only reached once by Barion Brown (1,313 yards in 2023) thanks mostly to three kickoff return touchdowns. Only two wide receivers in the SEC went for more than 1,100 all-purpose yards in 2024.