Backup QB Gavin Wimsatt is the latest UK football player to enter the transfer portal

Kentucky football’s need for a transfer quarterback just increased.

Senior backup Gavin Wimsatt, the most experienced quarterback on the 2024 UK roster, has entered the transfer portal with one season of eligibility remaining, according to multiple reports. That move was not unexpected after UK coaches elected to play freshman Cutter Boley over Wimsatt down the stretch, including giving Boley the start in the regular season finale, but it still represents a blow to the 2025 quarterback depth.

With former starter Brock Vandagriff not expected to return to UK, the Wildcats have just Boley and two three-star high school quarterback signees (Stone Saunders and Brennen Ward) in the fold for 2025. UK coach Mark Stoops acknowledged on signing day the staff would pursue a transfer quarterback to compete with Boley and at least provide veteran depth so the two freshmen are not relied on as Boley’s only backups.

Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan have been clear in their plan to build around Boley as the quarterback of the future, but there is no guarantee he will be ready to start as a redshirt freshman. Boley impressed while coming off the bench against Murray State and Texas during his first college season, but he struggled before leaving the Louisville game early with an injury. UK failed to score on any of Boley’s 15 drives against power conference competition.

Wimsatt had his best performance of the season in relief of Boley against Louisville, but he did not look like a legitimate candidate to start for UK in 2025.

In 33 college games at Rutgers and Kentucky, Wimsatt has completed just 46.2% of his passes for 2,824 yards, 17 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Wimsatt does represent a dual-threat option as a runner, but he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry while being used primarily as a run-first change-of-pace quarterback for Kentucky in 2024.

The former Owensboro High School star will probably need to transfer to a smaller program if he wants a guarantee of a starting job in his final college season. His skill set could translate to a productive season at that level considering he did help lead Rutgers to a bowl while starting all 13 games in 2023.

Finding a veteran replacement for Wimsatt will not be an easy task for Kentucky.

The most noteworthy quarterbacks in the portal are looking for starting jobs, and Kentucky cannot guarantee one with Boley on the roster. The numerous needs for transfers at other positions, including three offensive line starters, means Kentucky also is probably not in position to overpay for a quarterback in NIL collective funds.

Wimsatt was the second addition from UK’s 2024 transfer class to enter the portal Monday. Running back Chip Trayanum, who was expected to start for UK last season after transferring from Ohio State but was limited to just three games due to injuries, also entered the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

The transfer portal is open. Kentucky football needs help at these positions for 2025.

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