Kentucky football has put together a top ten transfer portal class

[Matt Dillon]

It hasn't taken long for new coach Will Stein to put his stamp on the Kentucky Wildcats football team. Left with a small recruiting class, he knew he would have to rely on the transfer portal to build a roster for 2026. So, he developed a plan, made contacts, and started adding good players.

Early on, Stein got his quarterback in Kenny Minchey, a four-star talent from Notre Dame. Like many of Kentucky's targets in the portal, he has a high ceiling and with Stein's experience with quarterbacks, could become a star.

Building an offensive line was also of the utmost importance for Kentucky. Stein did a great job here as well, adding five-star talents like Lance Heard, and experienced players like Coleton Price and Tegra Tshabola. It's a line with the potential to be one of the best in the country.

In addition, they added players along the defensive line, a former five-star running back in C.J. Baxter, and multiple defensive backs who can play right away. Altogether, it's a very good group, and USA TODAY Sports ranks it as one of the ten best in the country. Here's what they had to say:

Kentucky and new coach Will Stein have made some noise. Minchey (Notre Dame) was briefly committed to Nebraska before being flipped to the Wildcats. Castell (Florida) is a veteran SEC starter who can help with the development of a young but talented transfer haul at linebacker. Where the Wildcats have excelled is in overhauling the offensive line with Heard (Tennessee) and guards Tegra Tshabola (Ohio State) and Coleton Price (Baylor). Stein also remade the backfield by bringing in CJ Baxter (Texas) and Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma).

Coach Stein has already made a big difference in Lexington without playing a single game. In this offseason, he has possibly assembled more raw talent than the Wildcats have ever had. Next up: Win some game.
?
Kentucky football has put together a top ten transfer portal class

[MidTNCatFan]

As of 8pm Friday night:

IN:

• OT Olaus Alinen (Alabama)
• S Jesse Anderson (Pitt)
• OL Max Anderson (Tennessee)
• WR Nic Anderson (LSU)
• RB Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma)
• LB Elijah Barnes (Texas)
• RB CJ Baxter (Texas)
• DL Ahmad Breaux (LSU)
• S Jordan Castell (Florida)
• WR Brock Coffman (Louisville)
• WR Xavier Daisy (UAB)
• WR Ja'Kayden Ferguson (Arkansas)
• CB Aaron Gates (Florida)
• OL Lance Heard (Tennessee)
• QB JacQai Long (Marshall)
• CB Mark Manfred III (Missouri)
• QB Kenny Minchey (Notre Dame)
• EDGE Antonio O'Berry (Gardner Webb)
• OL Coleton Price (Baylor)
• S Cyrus Reyes (Mississippi State)
• OT Mark Robinson (UTEP)
• CB Hasaan Sykes (Western Carolina)
• OL Tegra Tshabola (Ohio State)
• LB Tavion Wallace (Arkansas)
• DL Dominic Wiseman (South Alabama)
• Adam Zouagui (South Flor

OUT:

• QB Cutter Boley (Arizona State)
• WR Preston Bowman (Ohio)
• DL Javeon Campbell
• S Cam Dooley (Florida)
• RB Dante Dowdell (Georgia)
• WR Hardley Gilmore (Baylor)
• DL Kenyatta Hardge (Marshall)
• WR Cameron Miller (Ole Miss)
• WR Montavin Quisenberry (Louisville)
• DL Austin Ramsey (Kansas State)
• QB Stone Saunders (San Diego State)
• DB Quay'sheed Scott (South Carolina)
• WR Quintin Simmons
• EDGE Jacob Smith (Louisville)
• DL Jerod Smith (Louisville)
• EDGE Steven Soles (Arkansas)
• WR Troy Stellato
• OT Darrin Strey (LSU)
• DB DJ Waller Jr. (Louisville)
• WR David Washington Jr.
• LB Landyn Watson (Kansas)
• RB Jamarion Wilcox

?We brought in a lot of players from major P4 programs. I am more optimistic now than at anytime in the last four years. The schedule is brutal but I expect we will win a few we aren't expecting and don't expect to lose any we shouldn't.

[dencat]

I am very excited about the Will Stein era. He has brought in a pretty good group for next year. I am also cautious about next year. Our schedule is pretty brutal, always will be in the SEC. With the transfer portal the way it is, it is going to be difficult to build cohesion among the players. Stein will have to get players who want to be here and want to stay here. This is especially true of the O-line. The big uglies have to trust each other and know their style of play. That is what made the Big Blue Wall so effective. We were able to rotate players in to get them game experience, which is critical.

[TrueblueCATfan]

This is awesome...now let's win games

[Jaxcat]

As of 8pm Friday night:

IN:

• OT Olaus Alinen (Alabama)
• S Jesse Anderson (Pitt)
• OL Max Anderson (Tennessee)
• WR Nic Anderson (LSU)
• RB Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma)
• LB Elijah Barnes (Texas)
• RB CJ Baxter (Texas)
• DL Ahmad Breaux (LSU)
• S Jordan Castell (Florida)
• WR Brock Coffman (Louisville)
• WR Xavier Daisy (UAB)
• WR Ja'Kayden Ferguson (Arkansas)
• CB Aaron Gates (Florida)
• OL Lance Heard (Tennessee)
• QB JacQai Long (Marshall)
• CB Mark Manfred III (Missouri)
• QB Kenny Minchey (Notre Dame)
• EDGE Antonio O'Berry (Gardner Webb)
• OL Coleton Price (Baylor)
• S Cyrus Reyes (Mississippi State)
• OT Mark Robinson (UTEP)
• CB Hasaan Sykes (Western Carolina)
• OL Tegra Tshabola (Ohio State)
• LB Tavion Wallace (Arkansas)
• DL Dominic Wiseman (South Alabama)
• Adam Zouagui (South Flor

OUT:

• QB Cutter Boley (Arizona State)
• WR Preston Bowman (Ohio)
• DL Javeon Campbell
• S Cam Dooley (Florida)
• RB Dante Dowdell (Georgia)
• WR Hardley Gilmore (Baylor)
• DL Kenyatta Hardge (Marshall)
• WR Cameron Miller (Ole Miss)
• WR Montavin Quisenberry (Louisville)
• DL Austin Ramsey (Kansas State)
• QB Stone Saunders (San Diego State)
• DB Quay'sheed Scott (South Carolina)
• WR Quintin Simmons
• EDGE Jacob Smith (Louisville)
• DL Jerod Smith (Louisville)
• EDGE Steven Soles (Arkansas)
• WR Troy Stellato
• OT Darrin Strey (LSU)
• DB DJ Waller Jr. (Louisville)
• WR David Washington Jr.
• LB Landyn Watson (Kansas)
• RB Jamarion Wilcox

?We brought in a lot of players from major P4 programs. I am more optimistic now than at anytime in the last four years. The schedule is brutal but I expect we will win a few we aren't expecting and don't expect to lose any we shouldn't.

Also added the WR from LSU, Nic Anderson.

Edit: Nevermind. Thought the list was in order of commitment - missed Anderson listed above.

[SportsFan]

Can anyone confirm whether Shane Carr, the Wide Receiver from Southern Utah, has committed or not? Other than a post or two on X and some rumblings online, I haven't seen anything concrete.

[Pobilly]

Another portal class ranking. KENTUCKY #8

https://247sports.com/season/2026-football/transferteamrankings/

[Pobilly]

Checking the portal team rankings UK is as high as 6 but as low as 37 (ON3 is the low ranking). Everyone else has UK either top 10 or top 15 that I found.
It seems that ON3 seems to rank UK players lower than everyone else. Funny thing is when they went in the portal they were ranked higher (5* or 4*) after signing with UK now the class there has 0 5* and only 4 4* signers.

[SportsFan]

It seems that ON3 seems to rank UK players lower than everyone else. Funny thing is when they went in the portal they were ranked higher (5* or 4*) after signing with UK now the class there has 0 5* and only 4 4* signers.

I'm glad you noticed that. I haven't paid attention to the football rankings (until now), but I've noticed that they do that with basketball. A guy will be ranked higher, sign with Kentucky, and all of a sudden their ranking is a bit lower.

[Jaxcat]

Another portal class ranking. KENTUCKY #8

https://247sports.com/season/2026-fo...rteamrankings/

When you look at some of the schools and sheer number of commits they've taken (35, 39, 51, etc), it just boggles the mind. OkSt has taken 51 new commits. I know they lost their coach but that's just a ridiculous number of brand new players. If you figure another 15+ HS recruits, almost their entire team is brand new. Even LSU which almost always has a ton of talent has taken 35. I know Kiffin loves him some transfers but was their talent really that poor that they felt they needed to replace half (or more) of the entire squad?

Maybe the NCAA, if nothing else, should limit the number of transfers to 20 or 25 per team per year to try to exert some sort of control over this mess.

[UKSanders]

I am sure I’m not alone, but I expect quite a lot of movement at the end of spring, too.

So there are likely a few spots that will add some depth and a maybe even a key player or two.

[Pobilly]

When you look at some of the schools and sheer number of commits they've taken (35, 39, 51, etc), it just boggles the mind. OkSt has taken 51 new commits. I know they lost their coach but that's just a ridiculous number of brand new players. If you figure another 15+ HS recruits, almost their entire team is brand new. Even LSU which almost always has a ton of talent has taken 35. I know Kiffin loves him some transfers but was their talent really that poor that they felt they needed to replace half (or more) of the entire squad?

Maybe the NCAA, if nothing else, should limit the number of transfers to 20 or 25 per team per year to try to exert some sort of control over this mess.

Hard to limit incoming as you might lose 80 (if coach leaves and such or bad year). But I think there needs to be several changes to portal. If Football does like basketball and guys that leave for NFL, do not make a team could be picked up again by any team. That would really start killing college football.

[SportsFan]

Can anyone confirm whether Shane Carr, the Wide Receiver from Southern Utah, has committed or not? Other than a post or two on X and some rumblings online, I haven't seen anything concrete.

ANYONE???

[PuntOnThird]

ANYONE???

I believe he's a verbal commit but still working out the details. Trying to read between the lines. A lot of fake X accounts trying to jump the gun.

[SBCatMan]

I am sure I’m not alone, but I expect quite a lot of movement at the end of spring, too.

So there are likely a few spots that will add some depth and a maybe even a key player or two.

I could be wrong — it would not be the first time … or the second … or the third … — but I do not think there is post-Spring portal anymore. I think the current one is the only one, but then, there are probably ways around that, too.