With the college football transfer portal window just two weeks away from officially opening, the offseason roster shuffle is already well underway - and Kentucky is starting to feel the early effects. As of now, five scholarship players from the Wildcats’ 2025 roster have announced their intentions to enter the portal, with wide receiver David Washington Jr. being the latest name to join the list.
Washington, a 5-foot-11, 204-pound sophomore, will hit the portal with three years of eligibility remaining. Originally a three-star recruit out of Philadelphia’s powerhouse St. Joseph’s Prep, Washington came to Lexington with high expectations and a strong senior résumé - 30 catches, 561 yards, and six touchdowns - choosing Kentucky over Virginia.
His time in Lexington, however, has been a bit of a rollercoaster. After showing promise during spring ball and appearing to be in the mix for a spot in the receiver rotation, Washington suffered an undisclosed injury over the summer.
That setback kept him off the field for the entire 2025 season. He was listed on the SEC availability report throughout the fall and ultimately redshirted the year.
Still, Washington isn’t leaving the program without experience under his belt. As a true freshman in 2024, he appeared in all 12 games, primarily contributing on special teams. While he didn’t see much action in the passing game, his consistent presence on the field spoke to the coaching staff’s trust in his athleticism and football IQ.
Washington becomes the sixth member of Kentucky’s 2024 signing class to enter the portal. He joins a group that includes Jiquavious Marshall (now at Liberty), Marc Nave Jr.
(Purdue), Caleb Redd (Kansas), Daniel Mincey (UAB), and fellow 2025 portal entrant Steven Soles Jr. After two seasons in Lexington, both Washington and Soles are now looking for new opportunities elsewhere.
With Washington’s departure, Kentucky’s scholarship wide receiver room now stands at 11 heading into the 2026 season. The group includes a mix of returning players and young talent: Ashton Cozart (Redshirt Junior), Hardley Gilmore IV (Junior), Cameron Miller (Sophomore), DJ Miller (Sophomore), Montavin Quisenberry and Quintin Simmons (both Redshirt Freshmen), and five true freshmen - Kenny Darby, Dallas Dickerson, Denairius Gray, Prince Jean, and Davis McCray.
That’s still a solid number on paper, but depth in the wide receiver room can shift quickly - especially in today’s era of player movement. With the portal window set to officially open on January 2 and close on January 16, more changes could be on the horizon for the Wildcats.
Here’s a quick look at who’s confirmed to be entering the portal from Kentucky so far:
- LB Landyn Watson
- **EDGE Steven Soles Jr.
**
- QB Stone Saunders
- **WR David Washington Jr. **
- WR Preston Bowman
The portal window may not be open yet, but the momentum is already building - and for Kentucky, the next few weeks will be critical in shaping the 2026 roster. Whether it’s about replacing talent, reloading with transfers, or giving young players a bigger stage, the Wildcats have some key decisions ahead.