The Wildcat has had quite the offseason.
It has been quite an interesting offseason for wide receiver Hardley Gilmore with the new era of roster turnover in college football.
Hardley played last season in Lexington before transferring to Nebraska for a short time before returning to Kroger Field this summer.
At the Kentucky Wildcats’ recent media day, Gilmore opened up about spending just two weeks of spring practice with the Cornhuskers before realizing he wanted to be back in Lexington.
“Everybody here is genuine. I love being a Wildcat. I was here coming out of high school, and I came here at 16. It wasn’t just a football team to me, it was a family,” Gilmore said.
Gilmore explained his decision a bit more, citing former Kentucky wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts as a big reason he left.
“I got recruited by Liam Coen. When I first got here as a high school recruit, he left, and Coach Shorts came in. I built a tight bond with Coach Shorts, a relationship. And when he left (for Nebraska), he asked me can I go with him? Just like a quick decision to go with him. And then when I got there, it just wasn’t for me, and I came back,” said Gilmore.
Gilmore did miss some time last season with a collarbone injury but finished the year with six catches for 153 yards and one touchdown as a true freshman.
The returning Wildcat will need to take a massive leap this season and help the receiver room after the program lost both Barion Brown and Dane Key.
Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan seems to think the sophomore is capable of making that type of jump.
“He can really play,” Hamdan said of Gilmore at media day. “It’s going to come down to his focus level. It’s going to come down to him understanding the game extends past the field. I think the sky’s the limit for him.”
It will be interesting to see what his production looks like in 2025!