Former Kentucky quarterback Amani Gilmore finds a new home in Texas
It did not take long for Amani Gilmore to find a new home.
Gilmore, a 6-foot-2 quarterback who spent his first college season with the University of Kentucky, announced Wednesday night that he is transferring to North Texas, a member of Conference USA.
“Let’s Get it!!! #MeanGreen,” Gilmore wrote in a post that included a graphic of him in a North Texas uniform.
His destination was revealed less than a week after it was first reported that Gilmore was entering the NCAA transfer portal. He will have three years of eligibility remaining at North Texas after sitting out this fall, unless granted a waiver.
North Texas hasn’t officially confirmed Gilmore’s transfer but head coach Seth Littrell retweeted Gilmore’s announcement and not-so-subtlety alluded to it on Wednesday night.
“Fired up about adding a BALLER, LEADER, and COMPETITOR TO THE @MeanGreenFB family!” Littrell wrote. “Let’s go score some touchdowns!”
Gilmore preserved his redshirt after appearing in only one game for the Wildcats last season. It was Gilmore who handed the ball to running back Tyler Markray for a 45-yard touchdown that broke UK’s single-game rushing record in its 50-7 win over Tennessee Martin.
Earlier this week he tweeted a graphic expressing gratitude for his time at UK.
“I have truly enjoyed my time at Kentucky, I have made friends and became family with my brothers at the University of Kentucky,” Gilmore wrote. “I’ve learned some things through this process that I can take with me as I move forward in my life.”
While he won’t get a chance to play in the Southeastern Conference, he could have opportunities to play against SEC competition. North Texas is scheduled to play at Texas A&M on Sept. 12 and at Missouri during the 2021 season.
Tommy Mainord, UK’s wide receivers coach during Mark Stoops’ first three years in charge, is the associate head coach and co-offensive coordinator at North Texas. Alexandria native Luke Walerius, a former graduate and recruiting assistant under Stoops in 2016 and 2017, is chief of staff for the Mean Green.
Former Frederick Douglass High School star Dayton LeBlanc is a sophomore defensive lineman at North Texas.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 10:44 AM.
