The Kentucky football program had to make some drastic changes this offseason. That ultimately meant flipping the roster in the transfer portal. Those final numbers turned out to become 29 scholarship players leaving the program for free agency and 24 scholarship additions from the portal. Add in the 21 high school commitments signed in December and 52.9 percent of the team was not on the roster last season.
That becomes very evident on offense when you take a closer look at the team. Kentucky added 16 transfers, 12 high school signees, and returned only 14 players on that side of the football. When Mark Stoops said that he needed to “reboot the roster”, that message was mostly directed at the offense where there has been no continuity.
Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, wide receivers coach L’Damian Washington, and offensive line coach Eric Wolford all got to play a big role in building this year’s unit. Most of the attention went to the line of scrimmage and what UK would do at quarterback. However, wide receiver quietly became a position that the program attacked repetitively throughout the offseason.
The Wildcats added five scholarship transfers, signed five high school prospects, and return just three players (Ja’Mori Maclin, Fred Farrier, and David Washington Jr.) to the team from last year considering that Hardley Gilmore IV was a transfer addition.
Similar to what we did with the offensive line earlier this week, KSR is taking a closer look at the brand new wide receiver room at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. This is what was lost, what was added, and what returns as this program searches for more consistent results at wide receiver.
Transfer departures
Barion Brown (LSU): The former top-100 recruit out of Nashville was a multi-time All-SEC performer as a kick returner and left Kentucky after three years with 122 career receptions in 37 games. Brown will spend his final season of college football playing in Tiger Stadium.
Anthony Brown-Stephens (Tulane): A former top-500 recruiting win for Kentucky, Brown-Stephens appeared in 25 games over two seasons in Lexington and recorded 10 total receptions. The Springfield (Ohio) High product will spend his junior season playing for Jon Sumrall.
Dane Key (Nebraska): A Kentucky football legacy and a four-star recruit at Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass, Key spent three seasons at UK and started 35 times in 38 career games. The 6-foot-3 wideout posted 126 receptions for 1,870 and 14 touchdowns during his career.
Brandon White (Hawaii): The Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller product spent three years at Kentucky before entering the transfer portal. White will be a redshirt junior in the Mountain West this season.
Kentucky’s 2025 wide receiver room
Preston Bowman (5-11, 210 | Freshman): A three-star recruiting win in Ohio, Bowman flashed strong hands, a big catch radius, and terrific ball skills at Pickerington North. A ball-winner with inside-outside versatility.
Ashton Cozart (6-3, 195 | Redshirt Sophomore): A former blue-chipper from Texas and Under Armour All-American, Cozart has played in just four total games over two seasons at Oregon and SMU. The multi-time transfer brings vertical speed and multiple years of eligibility to the table.
Fred Farrier II (6-1, 182 | Redshirt Senior): The Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin County was a surprise transfer addition for Kentucky after Farrier recorded 18 receptions for 266 yards in 2023 at UAB. Farrier recorded 13 receptions for UK last season and gives the offense quality depth with some inside-outside versatility.
Hardley Gilmore IV (6-1, 180, Sophomore): A four-star recruiting win for Kentucky in the 2024 cycle, Gilmore played in seven games as a true freshman and recorded six receptions for 153 yards. The young player surprising entered the transfer portal after the season but did not make it through spring practice at Nebraska. Kentucky has added Gilmore back on the roster and the expectation will be that he is involved in the rotation at receiver this fall.
J.J. Hester (6-5, 201 | Super Senior): The Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington product spent two years at Missouri and Oklahoma to begin his college career. Now his final stop will be at Kentucky. Hester is a deep threat with 27 career receptions (20.5 yards per reception) but staying healthy has been a problem for the multi-time transfer.
Kendrick Law (6-0, 203 | Senior): The former blue-chip recruit out of Louisiana spent three seasons at Alabama and accumulated 33 career receptions. Law is a slot receiver with a physical play style. Run-and-catch wideout who can consistently turn short passes into efficient gains. Should receive a healthy amount of touches on schemed-up designs (jet sweeps, screens, etc.). A potential favorite to lead the team in receptions.
Ja’Mori Maclin (5-11, 190 | Super Senior): Maclin spent two years at Missouri before transferring to North Texas. In year four in 2023, Maclin was one of the best receivers in the Group of Five. The wideout recorded 57 reception for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, the first year at Kentucky wasn’t great as the program tried to move him into the slot. Maclin thrived (seven receptions, 224 yards, three touchdowns) when given more outside opportunities over the last four games. The expectation is the veteran will be given a high snap count volume at both X and Z receiver this season.
Cameron Miller (5-11, 175 | Freshman): The New Jersey native is a slot receiver who flipped his commitment from Wisconsin to Kentucky in December. Miller is small but is dangerous with the ball in his hands, creates easy separation as a route-runner, and can fly in open space with the ability to change speeds.
DJ Miller (6-3, 197 | Freshman): The early signee made a positive impact during spring practice after recording 124 receptions for 2,297 yards and 33 touchdowns during his final two seasons at St. Louis (Mo.) Cardinal Ritter. A true X receiver who should have a rotational role in year one. Gives the offense some more size on the outside.
Montavin Quisenberry (5-10, 165 | Freshman): Undersized receiver who flipped his commitment from West Virginia to Kentucky. Slot wideout with a gadget skill set. Route-running development will be critical but Quisenberry did look like he belonged at spring practice.
Quintin Simmons Jr. (6-1, 17 | Freshman): An Ohio recruiting win with good long speed. Shows the ability to get open down the field and could make an impact as a kick returner at the next level. Simmons will arrive on campus this summer.
Troy Stellato (6-1, 178 | Redshirt Senior): The South Florida native played in 23 games over four seasons at Clemson and entered the winter transfer portal with 65 career receptions for 600 yards. A slot wideout with some positional versatility who could possibly become an important situational target for Kentucky’s passing game.
David Washington Jr. (5-11, 204 | Sophomore): The Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s Prep product played primarily special teams as a true freshman but was a big winner during spring practice. Washington brings inside-outside versatility and will likely compete with both Farrier and Stellato for rotational snaps.
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