If last offseason felt chaotic, this one might need a whole new word.
With a new head coach in Will Stein, a condensed NCAA transfer window, and a roster already used to heavy turnover, Kentucky football is about to dive into one of the wildest portal cycles the program has ever seen. That’s why this page exists, to track every move, all winter long.
Bookmark it. Refresh it. This will be your running guide to who’s out, who’s in, and how the 2026 Wildcats are being built in real time.
The NCAA has tightened things up for this cycle. The main transfer portal window for FBS and FCS players runs from January 2–16, 2026. That’s just 15 days for most players to officially enter, visit, and commit. The old spring window is gone, and graduate transfers no longer have year-round freedom, they’re on the same clock as everyone else. A secondary 15-day window can be triggered by certain late coaching changes after January 2, but for Kentucky, the heavy lifting will happen in that main stretch.
Layer a coaching change on top of that, and you get the perfect storm.
Stein will need to manage three different roster lanes at once: current Wildcats leaving, new Wildcats arriving, and a high school/JUCO class already signed and ready to help. Some core pieces will stay and thrive in the new system. Others will look for fresh starts. Meanwhile, the staff will be using the portal to add experience, fill holes, and inject playmakers into key spots.
Oh and did we mention he is gearing up for a playoff run with Oregon too? Because, yeah he is.
Kentucky football transfer portal tracker 2026 winter updates as Will Stein rebuilds the roster
Below, you’ll find three sections that will be updated throughout the winter as news breaks.
Transfer portal out
Transfer portal in
High school and JUCO signees:
Kentucky already has a strong early foundation in the 2026 class, and these players are just as important to the rebuild as the portal additions.
Dallas Dickerson, WR, 6-1/180 – North Oconee (GA)
Matt Ponatoski, QB, 6-1/195 – Archbishop Moeller (OH)
Denairius Gray, WR, 6-2/178 – Chaminade-Madonna (FL)
Lincoln Watkins, TE, 6-4/233 – Port Huron Northern (MI)
Ben Duncum, DL, 6-5/255 – Lake Travis (TX)
Isaiah McMillian, CB, 6-1/170 – Katy (TX)
Justyn Hartley, Edge, 6-2/215 – Hoover (AL)
Prince Jean, WR, 6-0/180 – Valdosta (GA)
Davis McCray, WR, 6-2/190 – Cornerstone Christian (TX)
Braxton Urquhart, CB, 6-2/198 – Butler C.C. (KS)
Cameron Miller, OT, 6-5/310 – Morton (IN)
Delvecchio Alston, RB, 6-0/200 – Hewitt-Trussville (AL)
Jordan Knox, OL, 6-2/325 – Northwest Mississippi C.C.
Kenny Darby, WR, 6-0/175- Airline (LA)
Graduated
Kam Olds, EDGE
Zach Calzada, QB
Ja'Mori Maclin, WR
Jager Burton, C
Jordan Lovett, DB
Josh Kattus, TE
Seth McGowan, RB
JJ Hester, WR
Alex Afari, LB
Kendrick Law, WR
Daveren Rayner, LB
Kahlil Saunders, DL
Aidan Laros, P
Joshua Braun, OL
Jantzen Dunn, DB
Fred Farrier II, WR
David Gusta, DL
JQ Hardaway, DB
Cole Lanter, WR
Alex McLaughlin, LS
Jack Monday, TE
Kam Olds, EDGE
Shiyazh Pete, OL
Zach Schreiner, K
Alex Wollschlaeger, OL
As portal moves stack up, this class becomes even more important as the long-term core around the quick fixes.
The bottom line: this isn’t just another offseason for Kentucky football. It’s the reset button on the roster and the first real look at what a Will Stein-built team will actually look like.
And every step of that journey will live right here.