Transfer Bio Blast: Raymond Cottrell

The first transfer portal window of the offseason officially opened on Monday. We’ve already seen a ton of player movement. Teams are working rapidly to get targets on campus for visits over the next two weeks to close these fast-paced recruitments before Christmas. Kentucky will host a key visitor this weekend.

Wide receiver is a clear position of need for the Wildcats this offseason. Head coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Liam Coen are in the market for 2-3 transfer receivers. One clear target will be taking an official visit to Lexington this weekend.

KSR’s Transfer Bio Blast is here to provide more information on a transfer with four years of eligibility remaining who could be on commitment watch this weekend.

Legitimate SEC recruitment

Raymond Cottrell was a top-250 recruit in the class of 2023 who saw a big-time recruitment. The Milton (Fla.) High product was a blue-chip recruit and had a blue-chip recruitment.

The summer before his junior season, Cottrell committed to Florida after a camp visit. Less than four months later, the four-star wideout backed off of that pledge to the Gators as the season fell apart in Dan Mullen’s final year in Gainesville. That decommitment turned into a direct flip to Georgia.

The next summer, Cottrell would take official visits to Georgia, Texas A&M, and Miami. Jimbo Fisher’s staff convinced the wideout to flip again. Cottrell would flip to A&M in January and quickly get enrolled in classes for the spring semester in College Station.

Four years of eligibility

Raymond Cottrell quickly saw playing time at Texas A&M. In a Week 3 win over ULM, Cottrell played 19 offensive snaps for the Aggies recording one reception for 13 yards and a touchdown. However, the true freshman would play in only one other game.

Due to only participating in three total games, Cottrell was able to preserve his redshirt. On Nov. 12, the true freshman announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. The former blue-chip receiver will have four years of eligibility remaining and will not have a free transfer available until he becomes a graduate.

True X receiver potential

Kentucky had very little depth at wide receiver in 2023. The Wildcats also did not have much size. Before the Louisville game, offensive coordinator Liam Coen admitted that the offense must get bigger and stronger.

“We need to get bigger, faster, and stronger. We need to get bigger, faster, and stronger as a unit. At the skill positions, we need to continue to grow and develop. We need to get more physically dominant up front and continue to grow to get back to that mentality that we can wear you out,” Liam Coen said. “That’s gotta be who we are. We’re not going to sit here and chuck it around 50 times per game.”

Kentucky needs more size at wideout. Raymond Cottrell can check that box.

At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Cottrell is a big-bodied wideout with a high school track-and-field background. At Milton High, the class of 2023 recruit was a top-250 prospect due to his ability to run good routes and make tough, competitive catches. Outside of Dane Key, Kentucky really doesn’t have a receiver that can line up into the boundary, beat press coverage, and make tough intermediate catches. Cottrell could provide that to the Wildcats.

The Texas A&M transfer fits a clear need for Kentucky.