Receiver Shamar Porter Now Staying at Kentucky

Vicky Graff Photo

A player who a month ago was praised by offensive coordinator Liam Coen for his potential and what he could eventually add to the Kentucky offense is staying in Lexington after all.

Freshman Shamar Porter put his name into the transfer portal once the season ended. He hurt his ankle during preseason drills and never got a chance to play for the Cats this season.

He was the highest rated recruit in UK’s 2023 signing class and the four-star receiver from Nashville was one of the best players in Tennessee. Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi were some of the programs he turned down when he signed with Kentucky.

Kentucky sophomore receiver Barion Brown called Porter a “rising star” because of his size and speed.

Porter still has four years of eligibility remaining and maybe the news that quarterback Brock Vandagriff was transferring from Georgia to UK intrigued him. Maybe he got an improved NIL offer from Kentucky. Maybe he just changed his mind because he liked Lexington.

Kentucky returns only three experienced receivers — Key, Brown and Anthony Brown. It loses Tayvion Robinson to graduation and Dekel Crowdus is in the transfer portal.