Transfer Tracker: Following every spring portal move for Kentucky football
Welcome to the Kentucky football transfer portal tracker. Kentucky Sports Radio is back again to constant updates after a new portal window opened on Saturday. After running a tracker during the first transfer portal window, we’re back again to do the same over the next two weeks.
The transfer portal is not new to college athletics, but this year it’s at a greater scale than ever before. Originally established in Oct. 2018, the new calendar cycle within the portal begins each August. The current window will be open for 15 days from April 15-April 30. Players can enter the portal and transfer to another school, or withdraw their name and return. However, intraconference transfers in the SEC are not allowed since the rules stat that players must enter the portal by Feb. 1 to be eligible to switch schools within the conference. Each college athlete now gets one free transfer and retains eligibility for the following year. College graduates are granted another free transfer.
Last year over a dozen Kentucky football players left via the portal with eight new arrivals for the 2022 season. We’ve seen those numbers to grow this offseason.
KSR’s tracker will keep a full rundown of the departures and additions while also provide updates when there is news.
Departing transfers
- DeMarcus Harris: Entered transfer portal on Nov. 28 and committed to Marshall on Dec. 20
- Kavosiey Smoke: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 1 and committed to Colorado on Jan. 11
- Chauncey Magwood: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 5 and committed to UCF on Dec. 20
- Chris Lewis: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 5 and committed to Troy on Dec. 20
- John Young: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 5 and committed to Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 18
- Adrian Huey: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 5 and committed to Tulsa Feb. 1
- Keaton Upshaw: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 6 and committed to Georgia Southern on Dec. 21
- Michael Drennen: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 6
- Tae Tae Crumes: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 6
- Kiyaunta Goodwin: Entered transfer portal on Dec. 16 and committed to Florida on Jan. 25
- Justin Rogers: Entered transfer portal on Jan. 3 and committed to Auburn on Jan. 12
- Kobi Albert: Entered transfer portal on Jan. 7 and committed to Mississippi State on Jan. 15
- Andre Stewart: Entered transfer portal on April 15
- Vito Tisdale: Entered transfer portal on April 15 and committed to Colorado on April 22
- Londyn Craft: Entered transfer portal on April 25
- Tomiwa Durojaiye: Entered transfer portal on April 26 and committed to West Virginia on May 11
- David Wohlabaugh Jr.: Entered transfer portal on April 30 and committed to Syracuse May 15
- Deondre Buford: Entered transfer portal on May 1 and committed to Cincinnati May 16
- Total: 18
Incoming transfers
- Marques Cox (Northern Illinois): Entered transfer portal on Nov. 28 and committed to Kentucky on Dec. 15
- JQ Hardaway (Cincinnati): Entered transfer portal on Nov. 29 and committed to Kentucky on Dec. 15
- Tanner Bowles (Alabama): Entered transfer portal on Nov. 30 and committed to Kentucky on Dec. 8
- Devin Leary (NC State): Entered transfer portal on Dec. 5 and committed to Kentucky on Dec. 20
- Ray Davis (Vanderbilt): Entered transfer portal on Dec. 5 and committed to Kentucky on Dec. 20
- Keeshawn Silver (North Carolina): Entered transfer portal on Dec. 8 and committed to Kentucky on Jan. 8
- Jantzen Dunn (Ohio State): Entered transfer portal on Dec. 13 and committed to Kentucky on Dec. 18
- Courtland Ford (USC): Entered transfer portal on April 16 and committed to Kentucky on April 22
- Ben Christman (Ohio State): Entered transfer portal on April 26 and committed to Kentucky on May 7
- Daveren Rayner (Northern Illinois): Entered transfer portal on April 28 and committed to Kentucky on May 13
- Alex Raynor (Georgia Southern): Entered transfer portal on Jan. 7, signed with Memphis in February, backed out of that commitment, and committed to Kentucky on May 14
- Kevin Larkins Jr. (Livingstone College): Entered transfer portal May 3 and committed to Kentucky May 16
- Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (NC State): Entered transfer portal April 27 and committed to Kentucky May 16
- Total: 13
Scholarship distribution
Per KSR’s count, Kentucky just hit its 85-scholarship limit with two additions on May 16. Here is how the Wildcats are spending their scholarship capital.
— QB (4): Devin Leary (Super), Deuce Hogan (RJr.), Kaiya Sheron (RSo.), Destin Wade (RFr.)
— RB (8): Justice Dingle (Super), Ramon Jefferson (Super) Ray Davis (RSr.), JuTahn McClain (Sr.), Dee Beckwith (RJr.) La’Vell Wright (RSo.), Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (RSo.), Jamarion Wilcox (Fr.)
— WR (9): Tayvion Robinson (Super), Dekel Crowdus (RSo.), Barion Brown (So.), Dane Key (So.), Jordan Anthony (RFr.), Brandon White (RFr.), Ardell Banks (Fr.), Anthony Brown (Fr.), Shamar Porter (Fr.)
— TE (7): Brenden Bates (Super), Izayah Cummings (Sr.), Jordan Dingle (RSo.), Josh Kattus (So.), Khamari Anderson (Fr.), Jakob Dixon (Fr.), Tanner Lemaster (Fr.)
— iOL (9): Kenneth Horsey (Super), Tanner Bowles (RSr.), Eli Cox (RSr.), Jager Burton (RSo.), Ben Christman (RSo.), Paul Rodriguez (RSo.) Grant Bingham (RFr.), Koby Keenum (Fr.), Austin Ramsey (Fr.)
— T (6): Marques Cox (Super), Jeremy Flax (RSr.), Courtland Ford (RJr.), Josh Jones (RJr.), Nikolas Hall (RFr.), Malachi Wood (Fr.)
— Offense: 43
— DL (12): Josaih Hayes (Sr.), Sam Anaele (RJr.), Darrion Henry-Young (RJr.), Octavious Oxendine (RJr.), Tre’vonn Rybka (RJr.), Jamarius Dinkins (RSo.), Kahlil Saunders (RSo.), Keeshawn Silver (RSo.), Deone Walker (So.), Tavion Gadson (Fr.), Kendrick Gilbert (Fr.), Tommy Ziesmer (Fr.)
— EDGE (5): J.J. Weaver (RSr.), Keaten Wade (So.), Tyreese Fearbry (RFr.), Noah Matthews (RFr.), Grant Godfrey (Fr.)
— LB (6): Luke Fulton (RSr.), Daveren Rayner (Sr.), D’Eryk Jackson (RJr.), Martez Thrower (Jr.), Trevin Wallace (Jr.), Jayvant Brown (Fr.)
— CB (8): Andru Phillips (RJr.), Jantzen Dunn (RSo.), Maxwell Hairston (RSo.), Jordan Robinson (RSo.), JQ Hardaway (So.), Elijah Reed (RFr.), Nasir Addison (Fr.), Avery Stuart (Fr.)
— S (7): Jalen Geiger (RSr.), Zion Childress (Sr.), Jordan Lovett (RSo.), Alex Afari (So.), Jaremiah Anglin (Fr.), Ty Bryant (Fr.), Kevin Larkins Jr. (So.)
— Defense: 38
— Specialists (4): Chance Poore (Super), Alex Raynor (RSr.) Wilson Berry (RSo.), Jackson Smith (RFr.)
— Total: 85
May 16: Kentucky Hits 85 Scholarship Players
Kentucky had two surprise additions on Tuesday. NC State running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and Livingstone College DB Kevin Larkins Jr. each revealed they will be transferring to the University of Kentucky.
It’s unclear how either player will fit on this year’s depth chart. DSK, a New Jersey native that played with Devin Leary last fall, showed plenty of promise prior to suffering a significant injury. Larkins led the D-II ranks in interceptions per game, but will surely encounter some growing pains in the middle of a talented, experienced safety room.
Further down the road, these could be solid long-term additions for the Cats. Half the running back room and each of the starting safeties may be gone after 2023. Sumo-Karngbaye, the “Slimy Shark” and Larkins fit the “recruit and develop” mold at Kentucky, just from the transfer portal instead of the high school ranks.
May 14: Kentucky finds a kicker
New special teams coordinator Jay Boulware is looking to upgrade Kentucky’s kicking game. Another name was added to the placekicker competition on Sunday when Georgia Souther transfer Alex Raynor committed to Kentucky.
The redshirt senior with two years of eligibility remaining was a three-year starter in the Sun Belt who was 45 of 59 (76.3%) on field goals with only three missed extra point in 113 attempts. Raynor signed with Memphis in February, but never enrolled with the Tigers. The transfer will immediately have a chance to grab the starting job in Lexington.
Kentucky is addressing needs this offseason.
May 13: Kentucky adds two transfers to the roster
Saturday was a busy day for the Kentucky recruiting department. The show got started when West Virginia offensive lineman Dylan Ray committed to the Wildcats just before noon. The Greater Indianapolis native was a Big 12 walk-on who earned some playing time as a redshirt freshman in 2022. Ray has three years of eligibility remaining.
A few hours later, Northern Illinois linebacker Daveren Rayner joined the party with a commitment during his official visit to Kentucky. One week after taking a trip to Cincinnati, the Indianapolis native was ready to end his recruitment. Rayner will add some much-needed depth in the off-ball linebacker room. The MAC transfer will be a true senior in 2023 with two years of eligibility remaining.
Per KSR’s count, the Wildcats now have just three open scholarship spots on the 2023 roster.
May 12: Two targets go away from Kentucky
This weekend was scheduled to be a big one for Kentucky’s transfer recruiting. Norther Illinois linebacker transfer Daveren Rayner is currently on campus for an official visit, but he was supposed to be joined by Rhode Island defensive back Antonio Carter II. The latter scratched those plans when late offers from Notre Dame, Florida, and LSU rolled in. Kentucky is no longer a contender for the FCS transfer.
On Friday evening, Grand Valley State wide receiver Jahdae Walker ended his recruitment with a commitment to Texas A&M. Kentucky issued a scholarship offer on May 1 for the wideout.
Elsewhere, former defensive lineman Tomiwa Durojaiye made his transfer decision when he committed to West Virginia over Colorado on May 11. The former three-star recruit out of Delaware has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
The Wildcats have four scholarships available.
May 9: Ben Christman joins the Big Blue Wall
Kentucky received a surprise commitment on Sunday when Ohio State offensive lineman Ben Christman joined the Big Blue Wall. The former top-150 recruit spent two seasons and Ohio State and will head to Lexington with three years of eligibility remaining.
Christman fits the mold of the road grading offensive linemen that Kentucky built their foundation on back in 2016 when the Big Blue Wall became the Big Blue Wall. The Big Ten transfer could also factor in at right tackle. The Wildcats are now up to 15 scholarship linemen on the roster. Christman will compete for a rotational spot at guard immediately.
Kentucky has options along the offensive line. The coaching staff has improved a team weakness in the offseason. Christman is the fourth scholarship transfer to join Zach Yenser’s position room this offseason.
May 7: Kentucky is not done with offensive line
Kentucky got a late surprise last week when both Deondre Buford and David Wohlabaugh Jr. entered the transfer portal at the last minute. Despite adding USC transfer Courtland Ford to the roster, the Big Blue Wall is down to six scholarship tackles.
A recent development tells us that Kentucky is not finished addressing the 2023 offensive line.
Utah transfer Tyler Knaak received an offer from UK on Thursday as the search for line of scrimmage helps continue. Don’t be surprised if some new offensive line targets emerge over the next two weeks as visits and decisions are completed in the transfer market.
May 3: Two new prospects emerge
The portal is now closed, but that does not mean recruiting has stopped. Early this week, we’ve seen two new targets emerge for Kentucky football.
On Monday, Northern Illinois linebacker transfer Daveren Rayner received a written scholarship offer from Kentucky and has a visit scheduled for Lexington for the weekend of May 11. Off-ball linebacker is a position of need for the Wildcats and the senior with two years of eligibility remaining could fill a role on Brad White’s defense.
On Monday night, Grand Valley State wide receiver Jahdae Walker received a scholarship offer from Kentucky. The Ohio native has received multiple Power Five offers since entering the transfer portal on April 26. Wide receiver is not a pressing need, but the Division II transfer will be a true junior in 2023 with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
May 1: Good news and bad news
Some good news was released on Monday when Rhode Island defensive back transfer Antonio Carter II informed KSR that he will take an official visit to Kentucky the weekend of May 13. Carter has already visited Ole Miss and Wisconsin, but the Wildcats are a legit player in this recruitment. Some depth is needed in the secondary.
However, some bad news followed.
On Thursday afternoon, Deondre Buford became the second Kentucky offensive tackle to enter the portal over the last 24 hours.
A former four-star recruit out of Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King, Buford spent three seasons in Lexington. After taking a redshirt year in 2020, the tackle saw action in two games as a redshirt freshman in 2021. Buford then emerged as a potential left tackle leading into the 2022 season. However, fall camp did not go well and he lost the job to David Wohlabaugh. After just one week, Yenser would decide to flex out guard Kenneth Horsey to tackle for the rest of the season.
Buford played 194 snaps for Kentucky in 2022 drawing starting assignments against South Carolina (right tackle) and Georgia (left tackle). The developing lineman received a 57.0 grade from PFF with poor marks in pass protection (45.0). Buford allowed nine pressures with four sacks in less than 100 pass protection reps. The veteran was spotted running with the twos during spring camp.
Buford will be a redshirt junior in 2023 with three years of eligibility remaining.
April 30: David Wohlabaugh Jr. enters transfer portal
Kentucky got some big transfer news when USC transfer Courtland Ford committed to the Wildcats on April 22. Unfortunately, that may have caused some other players on the Big Blue Wall to look elsewhere.
After spending two years in the program, redshirt sophomore David Wohlabaugh Jr. decided to enter the transfer portal.
The former three-star recruit in the class of 2021 from Northeast Ohio picked the Wildcats over Arizona State, West Virginia, and numerous other Power Five offers. After taking a redshirt year, Wohlabaugh earned a start at left tackle in 2022 against Miami (Ohio). However, the young player struggled and never could carve out a role on the Big Blue Wall in a rough season. Wohlabaugh ran with the twos during spring practice but is now leaving the Kentucky program. Ford, Marques Cox, and Jeremy Flax are in line to be Kentucky’s top three tackles this season.
Wohlabaugh has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
April 26: Tomiwa Durojaiye enters transfer portal
Kentucky saw another scholarship enter the transfer portal on Wednesday morning. The Wildcats are now down to 82 scholarship players.
Redshirt freshman Tomiwa Durojaiye is leaving the program after one season in Lexington. The three-star recruit in the class of 2022 picked the Wildcats over West Virginia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Georgia Tech in high school. Durojaiye played in three games last season while preserving his redshirt.
Kentucky is now down to 12 scholarship players on the defensive line. Durojaiye is the fourth player from the 2022 signing class to enter the portal.
April 25: Londyn Craft enters transfer portal
Former Mississippi State transfer Londyn Craft joined Kentucky’s football program last summer as a graduate transfer walk-on. The New Mexico native will be moving on after just one season in the program.
The former IMG Academy defensive back started eight games while in Starkville recording 57 tackles in 2020. However, Craft was unable to find a role in Lexington and appeared to be passed by true freshman Ty Bryant during spring practice.
Kentucky still has six scholarship safeties on the roster.
April 22: Courtland Ford, Vito Tisdale make transfer decisions
On Day 8, we finally saw some player movement in the transfer portal. Kentucky now has a new potential starting right tackle and a former defensive back has found a Power Five home.
The day got started when Vito Tisdale committed to Colorado during a visit for the first spring game in Boulder with Deion Sanders running show. The Bowling Green (Ky.) High product will join former Kentucky tailback Kavosiey Smoke out in the Pac-12 to play for Coach Prime.
However, the biggest news dropped on Saturday night.
USC transfer Courtland Ford immediately emerged as the top tackle prospect for Kentucky in the spring portal window. The Wildcats did not waste time when the Texas native was on campus this weekend.
KSR’s Matt Jones broke the news that Ford committed to the coaching staff on Saturday. Kentucky has added their third offensive line transfer this offseason as the Big Blue Wall goes through a massive rebuild.
Kentucky now has 83 scholarships accounted for on the 2023 roster.
April 20: The Latest on Courtland Ford, Jurriente Davis
Roush: The USC offensive tackle transfer will begin his official visit to Kentucky on Friday. Hopefully the weather cooperates to give him a quality dose of Keeneland to complement his evening at Jeff Ruby’s.
Overall, it’s been a relatively quiet recruitment. History tells us that’s a positive. The fewer visits and interviews, the better off for the Wildcats. However, KSR has learned that South Carolina has tried to enter the race for Ford’s services. Despite this push from Shane Beamer, multiple sources still believe the Wildcats are in the driver’s seat. I am placing an RPM prediction for Ford to ultimately land at Kentucky and fortify the Big Blue Wall.
Luckett: On Day 6, not all news was good news for the Kentucky football program. As the staff at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility was getting everything ready for Ford’s critical visit, Kentucky lost a key prospect of note when Jackson State transfer Jurriente Davis committed to Texas A&M.
The Wildcats got the first visit for the former junior college and Middle Tennessee linebacker, but the North Carolina native decided to roll with Jimbo Fisher and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin in College Station. Another prospect will need to emerge if Kentucky wants to address off-ball linebacker before the transfer portal closes on April 30.
April 18: Kentucky offers Rhode Island DB Antonio Carter II
A surprise target emerged on Day 4. Kentucky became the second Power Five program to offer Rhode Island transfer Antonio Carter II late on Monday night. That started quite the 24 hours for the FCS transfer.
The Central Florida native currently owns offers from Kentucky, Baylor, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Minnesota, Oregon State, Texas A&M, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. Carter is a redshirt senior with two years of eligibility remaining and is a strong tackling defensive back who could have cornerback and safety versatility.
April 17: Kentucky offers Wyoming transfer Emmanuel Pregnon
Day 3 of 15 passed by in the spring transfer portal window with Kentucky again attempting to upgrade the Big Blue Wall. However, the Cats aren’t just looking at tackle.
Wyoming guard Emmanuel Pregnon might be the best available prospect in the portal and the Wildcats entered the race by issuing a scholarship offer along with Penn State, Ole Miss, and Arizona State. Pregnon has legitimate NFL Draft potential with three years of eligibility remaining. The Mountain West transfer could see a heated transfer recruitment.
April 16: Courtland Ford enters portal, schedules Kentucky visit
There weren’t a ton of transfer portal entries on Sunday as the spring window has been light to this point. However, there was one huge development for Kentucky.
USC offensive tackle Courtland Ford officially entered the transfer portal after three seasons in Los Angeles on Sunday. The former high three-star recruit out of Cedar Hill (Texas) High in Greater Dallas started 12 games for the Trojans over the last two years. The redshirt junior immediately became a Kentucky prospect of note.
KSR’s Nick Roush is reporting that Ford has a visit scheduled with Kentucky this week as this recruitment could move very fast. The Wildcats have a huge need at right tackle. Ford could be target No. 1 for Mark Stoops and his coaching staff.
April 15: Andre Stewart, Vito Tisdale enter transfer portal
Kentucky did not have to wait long to see the first roster move in this transfer portal window. On3’s Matt Zenitz was the first to report that redshirt freshman cornerback Andre Stewart has entered the transfer portal.
A former Auburn commit, Stewart (5-11, 184) was a high three-star recruit in the class of 2022 out of Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb. The top-600 prospect was added to a position of need and was one of UK’s early wins in the 2022 recruiting cycle. Stewart owned listed offers from Florida, LSU, Arkansas, Miami, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Louisville, Oregon, Tennessee and others during the recruiting process.
Stewart is the third 2022 signee to enter the transfer portal following Kobi Albert (Mississippi State) and Kiyaunta Goodwin (Florida).
Stewart was quickly joined by former Kentucky defensive back Vito Tisdale. The in-state native was dismissed from the Kentucky program for a violation of team rules in March, but has secondary experience in the SEC. That could make the redshirt junior an attractive target for teams needing to address depth in the secondary.
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