The Transfer Portal positions Kentucky has to fix first on offense

When a new coach comes in, everyone focuses on schemes. Spread or pro-style? Tempo or methodical? Shotgun or under center? But the truth is simple: you can’t run any system without the right guys to run it.

Will Stein is inheriting some intriguing pieces on offense, but if Kentucky wants to move quickly, the transfer portal is going to be his best friend over the next few months.

Kentucky football transfer portal priorities on offense for the Will Stein era

Let’s start at quarterback. For this exercise, let’s assume Cutter Boley is back. That’s a big deal. You don’t walk away from a young quarterback with his arm talent. But even if Boley is the future, Stein needs a veteran who can help bridge the gap, push him in practice, and steady the room.

The obvious name is Austin Novosad, who already played for Stein at Oregon and knows the system. A quarterback who can walk into the facility and translate the playbook on day one is invaluable in year one of a new regime.

At running back, there’s a similar story. Dante Dowdell was recruited to Oregon while Stein was there and gives Kentucky a physical, short-yardage option. But Stein likes his backs to do more than just hit the hole. They need to catch, pass protect, and turn checkdowns into explosives. Expect Kentucky to chase at least two portal backs who can be true three-down threats.

Receiver is surprisingly one of the more stable spots. DJ Miller, Montavin Quisenberry, Cameron Miller, Hardley Gilmore, Dallas Dickerson, Denairius Gray, Prince Jean, and Davis McCray give the Wildcats a young, athletic core. If there’s a move here, it’s for a true alpha, a No. 1 target who can change coverages and make life easier for everyone else. That was messing last year.

Tight end is where need meets identity. Willie Rodriguez and Mikkel Skinner can catch passes and threaten seams, but Stein will also want some old-school muscle in that room. Blocking tight ends who can handle edge defenders and help in gap schemes are going to be a priority.

Then there’s the offensive line. There’s no polite way to say it: Kentucky needs help everywhere. Tackle, guard, center, all of it. This will be the most important part of the offensive rebuild. If Stein and his staff can land two or three plug-and-play linemen with Power Four experience, everything else on offense suddenly looks more believable.

The portal can’t fix everything in one offseason. But if Kentucky nails quarterback depth, running back versatility, tight end toughness, and offensive line experience, the foundation for Stein’s offense will be in place.

Tomorrow, it’s time to talk about the defense.