Kentucky football's Transfer Portal era under new head coach Will Stein kicked off with a familiar face heading for the exit: veteran EDGE Landyn Watson. The 6-foot-1, 239-pound senior, who arrived in Lexington last winter after stops at TCU and Marshall, plans to enter the portal for the 3rd time in his career, per reports from On3 and Pete Nakos. t's the first official departure for the Wildcats, coming just one day after Stein's hiring and his blunt warning to the roster about the grind ahead.
Watson, a three-star recruit in the 2021 class ranked in the top 500 nationally, redshirted his freshman year at TCU before appearing in three games as a sophomore in 2022 on a Horned Frogs team that reached the College Football Playoff National Championship. Seeking more snaps, he transferred to Marshall ahead of 2023, where he evolved from special teams contributor to a full-time starter. Over two seasons with the Thundering Herd, he logged 22 games with 11 starts, amassing 69 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, an interception, and a fumble recovery. In 2025 at Kentucky, Watson contributed 21 total tackles (eight solo) in limited action, providing depth on the edge but not breaking through as a rotational piece.
The timing aligns with Stein's introductory remarks, where he emphasized a grueling offseason as the path to improvement. For Watson, entering his final year of eligibility, the message may have signaled a rebuild too steep for his showcase goals. After two transfers already, TCU to Marshall, Marshall to Kentucky, he's hunting for a fouth landing spot where he can maximize his senior campaign and potential pro prospects.
Landyn Watson's journey through college football
Watson's path mirrors the portal's volatility for mid-major talents chasing Power Four dreams. At TCU, he was buried behind five-star recruits like Damone Harris, managing just a handful of defensive snaps amid Sonny Dykes' high-octane scheme. The move to Marshall unlocked his potential under Tony Gibson, where he thrived in a 3-4 alignment that suited his quick first step and tackling instincts. His 2024 breakout at Marshall, 65 tackles, including 4.0 for loss, plus an interception, earned him Group of Five all-conference chatter and prompted the jump to Kentucky for SEC exposure. In Lexington, however, Watson found himself in a crowded EDGE room and couldn't break out.
We will see where he lands next.