Kentucky receivers coach L'Damian Washington told Louisville Quarterback Club members recently that transfer Ashton Cozart could be a productive receiver for Kentucky. (Larry Vaught Photo)
New Kentucky receivers coach L’Damian Washington recruited Ashton Cozart when he was coaching at the University of Oklahoma but the No. 214 ranked recruit by 247Sports Composite ended up signing with Oregon over Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Oklahoma.
The Texas native left Oregon after one season and played the 2024 season at Southern Methodist and had one catch for 24 yards in four games before entering the transfer portal again. This time Washington was successful and Cozart committed to the Wildcats in May.
“He early enrolled at Oregon at age 17. He then transitioned home (to SMU). He battled anxiety really hard being away from home,” Washington said.
Once he got back to Texas at SMU, Washington said Cozart felt the pressure of being a top 30 receiver in his recruiting class and dealt with depression at times.
“He played a little bit last year, but all those receivers returned and he had a lot of pressure on him,” Washington said. “He got help this spring from a performance anxiety standpoint, and we worked through that.
“My job is to meet these kids where they are, wherever they are, whatever phase they are in life. My job as a coach is to meet them right there. Ashton Cozart, he’s 6-3, 200 pounds. He can stretch the field vertically, and I believe in him because he has speed, size and a ton of potential.”
Washington believes adding Cozart and Hardley Gilmore, who played at UK as a true freshman in 2024 before transferring to Nebraska, after spring practice ended has bolstered UK’s receiving group going into next season.
“Two great additions to our receiver room that I think will make us better and help us put Kentucky football where it needs to be to make sure everybody’s proud of what we’re bringing,” Washington said.
