Kentucky WR Cole Lanter to enter Transfer Portal

The spring transfer portal window opens on Tuesday, April 16. Kentucky wide receiver Cole Lanter is getting a head start on the madness. He announced his intent to enter the transfer portal on Monday afternoon.

Lanter is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound slot receiver who just wrapped up his redshirt freshman season in Lexington. The Danville native arrived as a walk-on but earned a scholarship from Mark Stoops ahead of the 2023 season. Lanter separated himself by bringing an exceptional work ethic to the Joe Craft Kentucky Football Training Facility.

“Cole just comes to work every single day and literally just works his tail off. That’s it. I mean, he does everything we asked him to do at a high level,” offensive coordinator Liam Coen said at the time.

“It’s so rewarding to see a kid like that, that pays his dues that works his tail off that does everything right… all he does with these opportunities is make plays. That’s something that you get rewarded for doing those things. It’s typically a sign of a good program.”

Even though he received a scholarship, Lanter was not in consideration to enter the regular rotation at wide receiver. Following the 2023 regular season, he posted, then deleted a message that he would be entering the transfer portal. He stuck around for spring practice and received snaps in the Blue-White Game.

Lanter should be able to use his status as a scholarship player to provide a soft landing spot elsewhere. He put up serious numbers while starring for Boyle County. The Rebels won back-to-back state championships during his final two seasons. In 2021 he caught a school record 78 passes for 1,288 yards and 21 receiving touchdowns. The BBN was first introduced to Lanter when he celebrated a touchdown in the 2022 spring game with a back flip in the end zone.

Kentucky Football Players in the Transfer Portal

Lanter is not the first Wildcat to share he will be entering the transfer portal. Another in-state player. former North Hardin RB La’Vell Wright, will enter the portal as a graduate transfer. On3 has also learned that three PWOs are hitting the transfer portal: Nick Pearson, Dylan Gary, and Darius Cannon. Here’s who has left the program this offseason:

• Jalen Geiger (Entered on Nov. 27): Committed to Tulane on Jan. 6
• Izayah Cummings (Entered on Nov. 29): Committed to Louisville on Dec. 18
• Luke Fulton (Entered on Dec. 1): Committed to Kent State on Jan. 12
• Shamar Porter (Entered on Dec. 4): Withdrew from the transfer portal on Dec. 8
• Jamarius Dinkins (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Purdue on Dec. 10
• Destin Wade (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Colorado on Dec. 15
• Keaten Wade (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Colorado on Dec. 15
• JuTahn McClain (Entered on Dec. 4)
• Grant Bingham (Entered on Dec. 4)
• Dekel Crowdus (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Hawaii on Jan. 18
• Martez Thrower (Entered on Dec. 4): Committed to Georgia State on Jan. 6
• Kaiya Sheron (Entered on Dec. 5): Enrolled at UT Martin
• Jordan Dingle (Entered on Dec. 7): Withdrew from transfer portal on Dec. 16
• Elijah Reed (Entered on Dec. 11)
• Deuce Hogan (Entered on Dec. 30): Committed to New Mexico State on Jan. 6
• La’Vell Wright (Entered on April 10):
• Cole Lanter (Entered on April 15):