Report: QB Amani Gilmore latest Kentucky football player to enter transfer portal

The University of Kentucky apparently will lose its second quarterback to the transfer portal this offseason, according to a report Thursday.

Freshman Amani Gilmore plans to transfer after only one season at Kentucky, according to 247Sports.

Gilmore joins Walker Wood in leaving Lexington since the end of last season. Wood, a graduate of Lafayette High School in Lexington, transferred to McNeese State of the Football Championship Subdivision in February.

Kentucky’s stable of quarterbacks is led by Terry Wilson, who is expected to recover from a knee injury that cost him most of last season and start for the Wildcats in 2020. Sawyer Smith, who briefly started in place of Wilson before he, too, was derailed by injuries, is also expected to return. Nik Scalzo, who missed his entire freshman season recovering from a knee injury, also remains on the roster. Newcomers Beau Allen (Lexington Catholic) and Joey Gatewood (transfer from Auburn) are also in the mix. Kentucky also owns a commitment from one QB in its 2021 recruiting class, Somerset’s Kaiya Sheron.

Gilmore reportedly becomes the fifth UK player to recently enter the transfer portal, joining wide receiver B.J. Alexander, defensive linemen Cavon Butler and Davoan Hawkins, and tight end Drew Schlegel.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pound Gilmore, who is from Amite, La., was a three-star prospect coming out of high school and joined Scalzo as QBs in UK’s 2019 recruiting class. Gilmore chose UK over Tennessee. Gilmore spent most of his freshman season on the scout team before traveling with the Cats late in the year. He saw action at quarterback in only one game, playing briefly against Tennessee Martin.