Kentucky football’s offensive woes continue, as wide receiver Hardley Gilmore, once expected to be a key starter, has decided to transfer. The loss marks yet another blow to a struggling Wildcats offense, which has become a revolving door for talent under offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan.
Hardly Gilmore was a massive win for UK beating out Penn State and UCF (With Gus Malzahn) for his commitment.
— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) December 28, 2024
Was a near Top-100 player in 2025 before reclassifying. Played his entire freshman season as a 17 year old. From Pahokee, Fl. Tons of upside. pic.twitter.com/tahL33HYq7 https://t.co/e5sXN8V06i
Gilmore, a three-star 247sports recruit out of Florida, reclassified to join the Wildcats early and flashed potential in limited action this season. His 2024 stats include just six receptions for 153 yards and one touchdown, but his 25.5 yards-per-catch average hinted at his big-play ability. In his best game, against Murray State, Gilmore hauled in two catches for 72 yards, including a 52-yard highlight reel grab that had fans hopeful for his future.
But that future won’t be in Lexington. Gilmore is now the latest receiver to leave an offense that has failed to inspire confidence for two consecutive seasons. Despite returning nearly the entire starting lineup from 2023—a major selling point in retaining Hamdan—Kentucky’s passing attack remains anemic, and doesn't look as bright as it did before the portal opened. They couldnt score over 21 points against a power 5 team, struggled running the ball at times, and could never really even look like a functioning offense for an entire 4 quarters. The unit has struggled to string together consistent drives, with quarterback protection and route execution being glaring issues, along with red zone scoring being dreadful
Kentucky loses a player it can’t afford to lose, a young receiver they were supposed to be building around.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) December 28, 2024
Hardley Gilmore is going to the transfer portal.
Nobody panic. https://t.co/4jokgHLIf5 pic.twitter.com/ejW6hBAGCb
Gilmore was seen as a developmental piece with huge upside. His scouting report, as noted by 247 Sports’ Andrew Ivins, praised his route-running “suddenness” and “strong-handed” playmaking ability, while acknowledging his need for seasoning. Kentucky fans were eager to see how the young talent would develop, but instead, Gilmore’s progress will now be showcased at another program.
The departure leaves Kentucky even thinner at receiver, putting more pressure on Jamori Maclin, the team’s top returning target. While Maclin has shown flashes, the Wildcats’ inability to retain talent or produce results on offense is a glaring indictment of the program’s direction.
With another key piece gone and no immediate answers in sight, the questions about Kentucky football’s offensive future—and Hamdan's role in it—grow louder by the week. As always keep up with the latest transfer news by clicking here.