How Cutter Boley and other transfers who left UK fared in spring practice
Spring football practice brought some clarity about which players will be featured pieces of Will Stein’s first Kentucky football roster.
But what of the players who left Lexington during the coaching transition?
Many of the 21 players who left Kentucky likely would have transferred even if Mark Stoops had been retained as coach as they searched for more snaps at smaller programs. Some of the key Wildcats whom Stein retained might not have remained in Lexington if the previous staff had been retained amid sagging results on the field.
But the performance of the former Wildcats will be a storyline to follow throughout the 2026 season.
Two of the 21 outgoing transfers (David Washington and Javeon Campbell) have yet to publicly announce a new program. Wide receiver Hardley Gilmore is not on this list despite signing with Baylor as a transfer because he remained at UK and participated in spring practice.
Here’s a look at where things stand for the other former Wildcats entering the summer.
QB Cutter Boley (Arizona State)
The most visible of Kentucky’s outgoing transfers, Boley reportedly received a sizable NIL/revenue sharing package to sign with Arizona State. Despite that investment in Boley, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham declined to name a starting quarterback after spring practice. Still, it would be a surprise if Boley doesn’t ultimately start for the Sun Devils, leading to season-long comparisons between him and new UK quarterback Kenny Minchey.
WR Preston Bowman (Ohio)
A former three-star recruit, Bowman did not appear in a game as a freshman while redshirting at Kentucky. He told the Ohio University student newspaper he was planning to return to UK before the coaching change, but his best option in the portal was to transfer down a level to Ohio. There, he reportedly impressed in spring practice, capping the session with two touchdowns in the spring game. The Athens Messenger projected him as a possible starter in the fall.
S Cam Dooley (Florida)
Stein and new UK defensive coordinator Jay Bateman made an effort to keep Dooley, who started the final three games last season, but he ultimately chose to follow former UK defensive coordinator Brad White and defensive backs coach Chris Collins to Florida. The Gainesville Sun projected Dooley as a backup safety entering the summer, but he did record an interception in the Florida spring game.
RB Dante Dowdell (Georgia)
Considering Dowdell initially committed to play for Stein’s offense at Oregon out of high school, he looked like a potential fit to remain in Lexington after the coaching change. Instead, he entered the portal shortly after news that Kentucky was set to host former Texas running back C.J. Baxter, who ultimately picked UK, for a visit. Dowdell, who rushed for 560 yards and three touchdowns in one year at Kentucky, landed at Georgia, where he is projected to fill a backup role in a deep Georgia running back rotation in the fall. Dowdell rushed for 61 yards and one touchdown on six carries in the Bulldogs’ spring game.
WR Cam Miller (Ole Miss)
Like Boley, Miller was frequently pointed to by the previous staff as an example of a young playmaker the offense could build around moving forward. Instead, Kentucky fans will have to see if that potential pans out at an SEC rival after Miller followed former wide receivers coach L’Damian Washington to Ole Miss. There should be opportunity in Oxford as only one the Rebels’ top six receivers is returning, but Miller will have to compete with four other transfers for featured roles. Ole Miss did not play a public scrimmage this spring.
WR Montavin Quisenberry (Louisville)
The 2024 Mr. Kentucky Football was one of five Kentucky players who followed Vince Marrow, who recruited him to UK, to Louisville in January. Fans will have to wait longer to find out if the diminutive Quisenberry can translate his electric high school highlight reel to the highest levels of college football after he suffered an injury in spring practice that is expected to cause him to miss the entire 2026 season.
DL Austin Ramsey (Kansas State)
After arriving at Kentucky as an offensive lineman, Ramsey found a home as a nose guard on defense last season, serving as David Gusta’s primary backup down the stretch. He is projected to fill a similar role for Kansas State next season, but the Topeka Capital-Journal called his position “the biggest question on the team” after spring practice. The new UK staff signed transfers Jamarrion Harkless and Dominic Wiseman to play Ramsey’s position.
QB Stone Saunders (San Diego State)
After a record-breaking high school career in Pennsylvania, Saunders spent one year at Kentucky fifth in the quarterback pecking order. He was likely to transfer regardless of the coaching decision. At San Diego State, he should have a better chance to see the field, but he leaves spring as the projected backup to returning starter Jayden Denegal. Saunders shined in the Aztecs’ spring game, completing 12 of 19 passes for 144 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
DB Quay’Sheed Scott (South Carolina)
Kentucky’s top nickel back last season could have competed for a featured role in Bateman’s defense, but he elected to transfer to his home state school instead. Scott leaves spring practice as the projected starter at nickel back for South Carolina, according to the Greenville Sun. He will face his former school Oct. 3 in Columbia. Kentucky signed Florida transfer Aaron Gates to play nickel back, which the new defensive coaches described as one of the most important positions in the scheme during spring practice.
LB Jacob Smith (Louisville)
While his twin brother was a featured part of Kentucky’s defense last season, Jacob’s UK career was slowed by injuries. He arrived at UK as an outside linebacker but moved to inside linebacker last season. After transferring with his brother to UK’s arch rival, Jacob will compete for a depth role for the Cardinals in 2026.
DL Jerod Smith (Louisville)
When Jerod entered the transfer portal, Louisville was quickly mentioned as a possible destination due to Marrow’s presence, and Marrow ultimately landed the former four-star recruit for the second time. Jerod is clearly talented enough to have helped Kentucky had he remained, but he likely would have served as a backup behind Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace again. He is in a similar spot at Louisville behind returner AJ Green.
WR Quintin Simmons (Miami, Ohio)
A former three-star recruit, Simmons did not play in a game while redshirting for UK last season. He did not publicly commit to a new school after entering the transfer portal in January, but he is now listed on the Miami (Ohio) roster.
OLB Steven Soles (Arkansas)
The defender who anointed himself “Sack Em Soles” before ever playing college football was one of Kentucky’s most effective pass rushers over the past two seasons but was rarely used outside of predictable passing situations. Had he returned to UK, he likely would have served in a rotation again at edge rusher, but he might have thrived in Bateman’s more aggressive scheme. Instead, he transferred to Arkansas, where the Fort Smith Southwest Times Record projects him to start at Jack linebacker. Soles was credited with two sacks in the spring game.
WR Troy Stellato (UNLV)
Stellato was expected to fill a featured role in UK’s offense after transferring from Clemson last year, but he caught just one pass in four games before suffering a season-ending leg injury. That injury was the latest in a long line of them for Stellato, opening the door for a waiver for one final season of eligibility at UNLV.
OT Darrin Strey (LSU)
Former UK offensive line coach Eric Wolford rarely rotated his group last season, leaving questions about how many of the young backups would be ready to contribute in 2026. Considering he convinced Strey to follow him to LSU after playing just 18 snaps at tackle last season, Wolford must view Strey as a piece capable of developing into a star. After spring practice, Strey is projected as LSU’s backup right tackle, according to NOLA.com.
CB DJ Waller (Louisville)
Waller contributed to a national championship team at Michigan as a freshman but struggled to stay on the field in two seasons at UK. The former staff hyped him as a star piece of the defense, but he played just two games in 2026 due to a nagging hamstring injury. Marrow, who recruited him to UK, recruited him to Louisville, where he should start if healthy.
LB Landyn Watson (Kansas)
Watson’s entry into the transfer portal came as a surprise because it did not appear he had any remaining eligibility. Apparently he qualifies for a waiver for a sixth season after playing just three games in two years at TCU. At Kansas, Watson appears poised to fill a role similar to the one he did in one season at Kentucky as a rotational piece at inside linebacker.
C Evan Wibberley (Louisville)
Wibberley was signed to start for Kentucky at center last season but struggled to adapt to the physicality of the SEC and ended up spending the year as Jager Burton’s backup. At Louisville, he could be in line for a larger role after an injury to left tackle Anwar O’Neil could move projected starting center Lance Robinson to tackle for the first few weeks of the season. Wibberley started the Cardinals’ spring game at center with Robinson playing tackle.
RB Jamarion Wilcox (Marshall)
UK’s leading rusher in 2024, Wilcox was suspended for the entire 2025 season following a sexual assault allegation. Wilcox signed with Marshall as a transfer, but he is no longer listed on the Thundering Herd roster. His legal case remains ongoing in Fayette Circuit Court.