Kentucky football continues to make waves in the transfer portal, climbing to 18th in the rankings with eight key commitments. This is an improvement over last year when the Wildcats finished 21st with 13 players brought in according to 247sports. With a little over a week left in the portal window, there’s still time for new additions or departures, but the Wildcats have already set a clear tone for their offseason.
The current list of commitments are:
- Sam Greene (OLB)
- Landyn Watson (LB)
- Joshua Braun (OG)
- Alexander Wollschlaeger (OG)
- JJ Hester (WR)
- Wallace Unamba (OL)
- Zach Calzada (QB)
- Henry Boyer (TE)
Here is the top 10 of the portal and Kentucky at number 18 comparatively:
1 Texas Tech
Commits: 16
Avg. Rating: 89.00
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 7 | 3-stars: 9
Points: 67.47
2 Ole Miss
Commits: 12
Avg. Rating: 89.27
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 5 | 3-stars: 6
Points: 59.69
3 LSU
Commits: 10
Avg. Rating: 89.56
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 5 | 3-stars: 4
Points: 54.30
4 Auburn
Commits: 11
Avg. Rating: 88.70
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 5 | 3-stars: 5
Points: 52.01
5 Mississippi State
Commits: 10
Avg. Rating: 87.30
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 1 | 3-stars: 9
Points: 43.36
6 Texas A&M
Commits: 6
Avg. Rating: 89.17
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 3 | 3-stars: 3
Points: 39.45
7 Wisconsin
Commits: 13
Avg. Rating: 86.60
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 1 | 3-stars: 9
Points: 38.13
8 Minnesota
Commits: 11
Avg. Rating: 86.70
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 0 | 3-stars: 10
Points: 36.40
9 UCLA
Commits: 11
Avg. Rating: 85.45
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 0 | 3-stars: 11
Points: 36.32
10 Oregon
Commits: 5
Avg. Rating: 90.00
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 4 | 3-stars: 1
Points: 36.06
18 Kentucky
Commits: 8
Avg. Rating: 87.33
5-stars: 0 | 4-stars: 1 | 3-stars: 5
Points: 30.04
One noticeable trend this year is that many of Kentucky’s portal additions come from smaller schools. This marks a shift from last year’s strategy of targeting players from major universities. It seems head coach Mark Stoops is returning to a philosophy of finding players with something to prove—athletes who carry a chip on their shoulder and are hungry for success.
A clear pattern is also emerging in the type of players Kentucky is bringing in: physical, hard-nosed run blockers. Offensive linemen like Braun, Wollschlaeger, and Unamba are proven assets in the ground game, which could signal a renewed emphasis on Kentucky’s once-dominant rushing attack. This aligns well with the arrival of veteran quarterback Zach Calzada, a seven-year journeyman with dual-threat capabilities. Fans aren't really thrilled though:
Unfortunate watching Kentucky football collapse in front of our eyes. The support/resources are there to be good, but the leadership is not. Some of the transfer portal additions to this point have been semi mind-boggling.
— Brandon Bargo (@BrandonBargo11) December 20, 2024
Kentucky transfer portal news has got me sleeping. Nothing here gets me excited or believing Stoops will turn things around 😴 💤
— Stu Hammer (@stuhammer_) December 19, 2024
Wide receiver JJ Hester and tight end Henry Boyer add size and versatility to the running game as well, complementing the run-focused identity of the offensive line. On defense, Greene and Watson bring much-needed depth and athleticism to the linebacker corps that was wiped out.
While the Wildcats haven’t gone all-in on splashy names this year, they’ve built a foundation of players who fit their system and style. With time still left in the portal period, Kentucky could make even more moves to solidify its roster. Ranked 18th and climbing, Stoops seems determined to take Kentucky back to a more physical and gritty identity that has been the hallmark of his program’s success. Will it work this time BBN? As always check the latest news of the transfer portal by clicking here.