Running back Kavosiey Smoke is one of the UK players in the transfer portal who will not play in the Music City Bowl. (UK Athletics Photo)
When Kentucky played in the Citrus Bowl last season the Cats had several players who had entered the transfer portal play in the game.
That’s not going to happen when Kentucky takes on Iowa in the Music City Bowl Dec. 31 in Nashville.
Kentucky has 10 players in the transfer portal — including five receivers, one running back and one tight end — and Stoops said the approach to the bowl game is different this year.
“Last time we played (in a bowl), I was so glad to do it, with the portal, and having guys play last year. This year, it’s just different. It’s harder. It’s been around longer. We’re a little more familiar with it,” Stoops said.
“Last year was a great success. But this year, I think it’s better for the players and better for us that they can go and take their visits and figure out where they’re going.”
It was different. It was the Citrus Bowl. Kentucky was going for 10 wins. No one was quite sure what the transfer portal would turn out to be. Now the transfer portal is like the NFL free agent market and I think Stoops is right about wishing players well that want to leave and going with the players who want to still be at UK.
That doesn’t mean he has any hard feelings toward those leaving. He understands most just want a chance to play more and have accepted that means transferring.
“Just so appreciative, as a group, the guys that are in the portal. Just all great young men, very good football players. We’ve worked hard to try to help them. It’s not always a perfect or positive experience for everybody, but we work very hard for everybody,” Stoops said.
“There’s 110 players (on the team), 105 players at the end of the year, and we care about each and every one of them, and invest in each and every one of them. But they’re not all going to get, individually, what they all want.
“That’s why the portal is a good thing. It may not be best for us in certain areas, but it’s better for that young man, so we support it, and want to help in any way we can. We really appreciate all of them.”
But was it hard to make advance plans for a bowl game not knowing for sure who will play like UK had to do the past two weeks?
“Not hard at all, because we have a lot to do right now with recruiting,” he said.
Kentucky will practice some this weekend and next week before taking a three-day Christmas break before the team gathers again in Nashville for final preparations.
5 Responses
That’s really the way it should be.
I have a question about Tavion Robinson. There were comments I read that said he could have played vs Louisville but chose to set out. Now I have read that with Coen coming back to KY he might like to stay around another year to play under him. With Stoops deciding not to use players in the transfer portal would you say there is a possibility Coach may tell Tavion good bye anyway.
From all I keep hearing, Tayvion likely will stay another year and play for Liam like he thought he was going to do this year
I don’t think so, Tavion was a key player this year even with Key and brown. Plus he’s good on return. He hasn’t entered the portal that I know of, maybe he was under the weather.
I’m understanding the regular season games to some degree now. It appears UK is trying to appeal to the better players in those conferences by scheduling the better teams in those same conferences. Portal regular season recruiting with a game plan. Appealing to players under recruited is a great game plan. If this is happen chance, it’s a tremendous outcome. I’d also give Iowa a nod with the reporting of the portal transfers.