The transfer portal continues to reshape college football, and in 2025, Kentucky once again dove headfirst into the chaos—and came out with impact pieces on both sides of the ball. With 20+ additions and some painful departures, let’s break down the Wildcats’ most important wins and losses in the portal ahead of the fall.
🟢 Biggest additions
Obviously Zach Calzada and Dante Dowdell lead the way impact wise, that may be the starting backfield. But we want to look beyond just those two to the next group of players who can step in and step up:
note: all rankings are from on3.
TE Elijah Brown (UCF)
A 6'6", 250-pound redshirt junior with SEC-ready size and athleticism, Brown is arguably Kentucky’s biggest portal splash. Rated 90.74, he gives Bush Hamdan a dynamic pass-catching threat who can stretch the middle of the field and help anchor the run game. Expect Brown to start immediately and be a key red-zone target.
WR Hardley Gilmore (Nebraska)
A former blue-chip recruit, Gilmore brings speed and explosiveness to a Kentucky offense looking to stretch the field. The 6’1”, 165-pound wideout flashed potential in Lexington, made a commitment to Nebraska but found himself back in the portal after Spring practice. He could thrive in a more wide-open scheme in Lexington. He’s a high-upside piece and a perfect fit for Kentucky’s vertical passing game.
RB Seth McGowan (New Mexico State)
McGowan arrives with 92.56 NIL value and Power Five pedigree. The 215-pound senior was highly productive at New Mexico State and should compete for RB1 duties with his blend of vision and physicality. With Kentucky breaking in a new offensive line, McGowan’s downhill style should help stabilize the run game.
EDGE Mi’Quise Grace (South Dakota)
A 92.15-rated FCS All-American, Grace is the kind of under-the-radar transfer who could turn heads in the SEC. Long, athletic, and disruptive, he’ll bring pass-rushing juice to a defense that needs more pressure off the edge.
DL David Gusta (Washington State)
Gusta gives Kentucky a proven interior presence, ideal for the trenches of SEC football. His 92.49 rating is one of the highest among all defensive line transfers. With experience and explosiveness, he’s a plug-and-play starter up front.
WR Ashton Cozart (SMU)
Kentucky continues to add size and speed at receiver, and Cozart is no exception. The 6'2.5" redshirt freshman has 91.86 NIL value and big-play ability. He joins a crowded but talented receiver room that suddenly looks like a strength.
OT Shiyazh Pete (New Mexico State)
A mountain of a man at 6'8", 287 pounds, Pete is an all-conference left tackle who should step into a starting role immediately. He shores up the blind side for whoever wins the quarterback battle and gives the offensive line a major boost.
🔴 Toughest losses
Barion Brown and Dane Key headline the exits as both starting wideouts hit the portal. Brown will take his talents to Brian Kelly and LSU, while Dane Key is now in Nebraska. Key is probably the biggest loss as he was the most proven and consistent receiver, but we are going to look beyond these two and see the rest of the big time losses:
DL Kendrick Gilbert (to Louisville)
Gilbert’s transfer to in-state rival Louisville stings. A former highly touted prospect (87.00), Gilbert flashed his upside at Kentucky but never fully broke out. If he puts it together with the Cards, it’ll be a tough pill to swallow for Big Blue Nation.
DL Darrion Henry-Young
Henry-Young never quite lived up to the hype after transferring from Ohio State, but his exit still thins Kentucky’s defensive line depth. At 85.00, he had starting-caliber potential and SEC experience.
IOL Marc Nave (to Purdue)
A promising young interior lineman with a strong frame (6’4”, 320), Nave’s decision to head to Purdue creates a long-term hole. With offensive line development so critical, losing young talent like Nave can have ripple effects.
IOL Wallace Unamba (to Virginia)
A massive veteran presence (6’5”, 335), Unamba had the size and experience to push for starting reps, but he was playing with the 2nd team in Spring. His departure to Virginia leaves Kentucky with one less plug-and-play depth option on an uproven offensive line.
🔄 Net portal impact
Mark Stoops and his staff weren’t passive this offseason. Kentucky aggressively addressed both lines of scrimmage and added weapons at wide receiver, tight end, and running back. While a few young pieces slipped away and Gilbert’s flip to Louisville will be closely watched, the Wildcats are clearly in better shape talent-wise than they were in January overall. Just not as many standout stars.
The offensive line is deeper. The receiving corps is more well rounded. And the front seven is nastier.
Portal wins don’t guarantee on-field wins—but if this group gels quickly, Kentucky could be a sleeper in the SEC this fall.
What’s next?
Keep an eye on the quarterback competition and how these new weapons integrate in fall camp. For a team that needed a talent injection, Kentucky just got one.