After another receiver or two, expect defensive players to be among the most sought-after transfers by UK. UK already has one transfer, Syracuse wide receiver Taj Harris, committed as part of the 2022 class none of its “top four” transfers ahead of the 2021 season were committed before January. Most of those additions in that scenario, in Kentucky’s case, are likely to come from the portal. Going forward, it will continue to be essential in the team-building process, especially with the NCAA allowing teams to add up to an additional scholarship player beyond its regular 25 each year for every player it loses to the portal, up to seven. Their absences were felt the hardest at the start of the season, when three members of the secondary - Andru Phillips, Joel Williams and Vito Tisdale - were consumed by a legal matter, but have possibly had a greater impact on the defense than anticipated.Ĭould’ves and should’ves regarding the portal are irrelevant for this year’s Kentucky team. Stoops on Monday, without going into detail as to the “why,” said he recommended that both put their names into the portal. Devonshire - who are playing regular snaps for Purdue and Pittsburgh, respectively. Or maybe UK would have been more equipped to handle losses up front if its secondary were deeper? It lost two defensive backs to the transfer portal - Jamari Brown and M.J. That unit coming into the season was one of Kentucky’s deepest, but with one starter (Octavious Oxendine) sidelined for the remainder of the year and the health of another (Marquan McCall) up in the air, plus hybrid end Jordan Wright battling an ankle problem, younger players have been put in the line of fire earlier, and more often, than for which they were ready. In hindsight, UK should have added some defensive linemen from the portal as well. Kentucky’s other three transfers haven’t gotten much meaningful time on the field but eased concerns about depth linebackers Justice Dingle and Luke Fulton have Power Five experience at their position - one of apparent need coming into 2021 - and Tre’Von Morgan’s midseason move to the tight end room has purportedly gone well. Jacquez Jones has been stronger in the middle of the defense than was even anticipated, and Dare Rosenthal has been good on the left side of the offensive line. Wan’Dale Robinson is a weekly highlight reel. Will Levis, despite some unevenness from week to week, has been one of the most complete quarterbacks that Kentucky has had under Stoops. The Wildcats’ embrace of the transfer portal was a dalliance compared to some programs in college football - Michigan State brought in 14 new players and Tennessee, which handed UK its latest loss, added 10 (after losing 33!) - but the impact produced by four of UK’s seven additions can’t be overstated. That doesn’t mean it can’t dabble with other methods, though. “Recruit and develop” for a while has been Mark Stoops’ mantra in terms of team-building at the University of Kentucky, and it’s a philosophy from which the program can’t stray too far as it tries to elevate itself further in the Southeastern Conference.
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