Following the conclusion of Kentucky’s Spring Showcase on April 12, 2025, the Wildcats’ football team has been busy evaluating their roster as they prepare for the upcoming season. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops expressed confidence in the team’s progress but acknowledged that there are still areas that could use improvement, particularly with depth in certain positions.
Although the team added 20 transfers to its roster this spring, Stoops noted that the rebuild is still ongoing. “I feel good about the roster, but there are a few areas where we could use a couple more players,” Stoops shared. “It’s important to have the depth to function properly during practices.” The Spring Showcase, which saw a scrimmage without keeping score or tackling to the ground, marked the end of spring practice. Stoops emphasized that the work would continue as the offseason strength and conditioning program resumes and as the coaching staff prepares for the reopening of the transfer portal on Wednesday.
As Kentucky works through its scholarship numbers for the upcoming season, Stoops pointed out that, with 86 scholarships expected for the fall, the team may need to make some adjustments to reach the SEC’s 85-scholarship limit. This could lead to some players entering the transfer portal. “We’re still working through what the final numbers will be and managing the potential attrition,” Stoops explained.
One of the potential additions to the roster, Louisiana Tech wide receiver transfer Tru Edwards, was absent from the current scholarship count. Edwards, who had committed to Kentucky in December, faced uncertainty regarding his eligibility following an NCAA decision that affected players who had exhausted their eligibility. Stoops confirmed that additional information had been received regarding Edwards’ eligibility, but it seems unlikely that the waiver will apply to him. As a result, with several wide receivers unavailable for the Spring Showcase due to injuries, the Wildcats are expected to seek out more help at the receiver position via the transfer portal.
Vince Marrow, Kentucky’s recruiting coordinator, stated earlier in the week that the majority of the team is already in place, but the staff would look to add one or two players if the right opportunity arises. “Our defense is pretty solid, but on offense, we could use another running back, a receiver, and maybe a tight end,” Marrow said.
One position that could see both additions and departures through the transfer portal is running back. Kentucky added Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell in December, and he impressed during the Spring Showcase with his physical running style. Redshirt freshman Jason Patterson shared first-team reps with Dowdell, though Patterson is still working on understanding the playbook. The running back depth could be a concern, especially with redshirt freshman Tovani Mizell recovering from an ACL injury and yet to prove his ability to take on a larger role. Stoops noted the improvements in the running game throughout spring practice, acknowledging the team’s need to maintain physicality and avoid being predictable on offense.
The Wildcats will continue to evaluate their roster and look to improve depth, particularly in areas like wide receiver and running back, as the transfer portal remains a key avenue for addressing these needs.
