Vince Marrow’s bold statement that fans would be “amazed” by the caliber of players interested in joining Kentucky in the transfer portal has taken an ironic twist. As the Wildcats scour the transfer portal to rebuild their roster, the list of potential recruits does not exactly inspire confidence for an SEC powerhouse. Among the 12 players Kentucky is reportedly in the mix for, the majority hail from smaller programs like Colgate, Western Carolina, Elon, and Rice, with only three coming from Power 5 schools.
According to Aaron Gershon the following are the 12 players Kentucky is currently pursuing:
The target tracker is up to 12 names.https://t.co/5U3mfjWPXN
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) December 9, 2024
Ahmad Hardy, RB (ULM)
Zach Atkins, TE (Northwest Missouri State)
Derek Simmons, OT (Western Carolina)
Cazeem Moore, DE (Elon)
Sam Greene, OLB (USC)
Kameron Olds, DE (Kent State)
Landyn Watson, LB (Marshall)
Cole Kozlowski, LB (Colgate)
Jordan Scruggs, CB (South Alabama)
Brice Pollock, CB (Mississippi State)
Marcellus Barnes Jr., CB (Syracuse)
The power 5 teams are Sam Greene, an outside linebacker from USC with just 15 tackles this past season, Brice Pollock, a cornerback from Mississippi State, and Marcellus Barnes Jr., a cornerback from Syracuse. While these players may have potential, the list is dominated by recruits from lower-tier programs, such as Louisiana Monre, Northwest Missouri State and Western Carolina. For a program that competes in the brutal SEC, these pickups hardly feel like the game-changers fans expected.
Compare this with the exodus Kentucky is facing, and the disparity becomes even starker. The Wildcats have lost key contributors like wide receivers Barion Brown and Dane Key, tight ends Jordan Dingle and Khamari Anderson, and defensive linemen Keeshawn Silver and Deone Walker. Even a player who Stoops said wanted to return, Chip Trayanum, decided to jump into the portal. The talent drain appears massive, leaving Kentucky scrambling to fill holes. To read all about the transfer portal click here
If Kentucky wants to compete in the SEC, they’ll need more than a patchwork lineup from small schools, it is as simple as that. While diamonds in the rough can be found, relying heavily on such players is a risky strategy when facing the likes of Texas and Georgia. And usually you develop them over 4 years in your program, not a one year rental in the portal.
Fans may have been “amazed,” but not in the way Vince and Stoops had hoped.