Vicky Graff Photo
Keeping up with the transfer portal — players leaving Kentucky and players coming to UK — is nearly impossible because the movement never stops.
The biggest news for Kentucky coach Will Stein broke late Monday night when Notre Dame backup quarterback Kenny Minchey flipped the commitment he made to Nebraska on Monday to UK.
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound former four star recruit from Tennessee has two years of eligibility left. He narrowly missed being Notre Dame’s starter for the 2025 season and was ranked by ESPN as the No. 9 quarterback in the transfer portal.
Kentucky had Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt, ESPN’s No. 2 transfer QB, on campus last weekend but he did not commit and Stein decided to make the move to get Minchey, who threw for 196 yards on 20-of-26 passing and rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown in six games last season.
Here are other transfers who committed to Kentucky Tuesday:
— Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes committed to UK over Arkansas and LSU. He has one year of eligibility remaining. The Las Vegas native was a top 100 recruit in 2021 and picked Oklahoma over Alabama, Florida State, and USC.
He had 116 carries for 519 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2022. As a junior he rushed 122 times for 577 yards and five touchdowns with a career-high 17 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. He played the first four games in 2025 before opting to redshirt to save a year of eligibility.
— Florida defensive back Aaron Gates will have two years of eligibility remaining. The Georgia native was a four-star recruit who redshirted his first year and then had 27n tackles, four tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 2024. He suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder four games into the 2025 season that required season-ending surgery.
— Offensive lineman Max Anderson of Tennessee was a four-star prospect and top 30 rated interior offensive lineman in his recruiting class. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Anderson chose the Vols over Oklahoma. He redshirted during his true freshman season and then played in three games this year with 76 snaps mostly at left guard in 2025.
Stein had also earlier added center Coleton Price (Baylor), defensive linemen Ahmad Breaux (LSU) and Antonio O’Berry (Gardner-Webb), linebacker Tavion Wallace (Arkansas) and cornerback Hasaan Sykes (Western Carolina).
The Wildcats also got a big addition to their 2026 high school recruiting class on Tuesday when cornerback Andre Clarke Jr., a top 100 player in ESPN’s top 300, got his release from Michigan and committed to Stein’s Cats.
He is ESPN’s No. 15 cornerback in the 2026 cycle.
Earlier UK got a commitment from top 300 receiver Kenny Darby after Stein took over at Kentucky.
4 Responses
The man is serious about winning. Next year could be interesting. I'm pulling Ducks all the way. Every win he gets now only helps the Cats in recruiting.
I’m torn between him adding to his resume or being on campus to make his pitch to recruits.
The reality is this. Portal players have two major priorities. 1. Show me the money; and 2. how quick can I get to the NFL? I think therefore that we can consider portal players as one and done unless success in either or both of the above priorities is achieved. If the path through KY does not stay on the success trend line, he's gone. Example, Cutter Boley.
Hopefully we will be Fine with Stein….I like it already but still wish we had gotten Sumrall bc feel would have had more immediate impact on recruiting and maybe better shot in longevity. I am ok with Oregon losing tomorrow night bc would prefer Stein get back here sooner than later.
Comments are closed.