Jamarion Wilcox Heads to Marshall for a Fresh Start After Tumultuous Kentucky Tenure
After three years in Lexington, Kentucky running back Jamarion Wilcox is heading south for a new chapter. The former high three-star recruit out of Douglasville, Georgia, has committed to Marshall, becoming the first Kentucky transfer to land with a Sun Belt program during this portal cycle.
For the Thundering Herd, it’s a notable pickup. Marshall is coming off a 5-7 season under new head coach Tony Gibson, who took over after Charles Huff departed for Southern Miss.
Just two years ago, Marshall was celebrating a Sun Belt championship. Now, they’re reloading - and Wilcox could be a key piece in that rebuild.
Let’s rewind to what Wilcox brings to the table. After redshirting in 2023, he made his mark as a redshirt freshman in 2024.
He rushed for 590 yards on just 92 carries - that’s a hefty 6.4 yards per tote - and forced 30 missed tackles along the way. He cracked the 100-yard mark twice and, at times, looked like the most dynamic weapon in Kentucky’s offense.
Wilcox’s blend of vision, burst, and balance made him a tough assignment for SEC defenses. He wasn’t just picking up yards - he was creating them, often making something out of nothing. That kind of production in limited touches had folks in Lexington excited about his future.
But that promising trajectory was derailed in 2025.
Wilcox saw limited action in spring practices, buried behind fellow backs Dante Dowdell and Jason Patterson. Then came a series of off-field issues.
In August, he was accused of sexual assault, and a protective order was filed in September. Around that same time, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops announced Wilcox wouldn’t play in Week 1 due to a violation of team rules.
Separately, he also faced a court date related to a speeding citation and a city license violation involving his dogs.
Things escalated later that month. On September 26, Wilcox was arrested and charged with first-degree sexual abuse.
A court date was set for November 3. While he was never formally dismissed from the team, Wilcox didn’t appear in a single game during the 2025 season.
Now, he’ll get a second chance with Marshall, where he joins a program looking to bounce back under new leadership. For Gibson and the Herd, Wilcox represents both a risk and an opportunity - a player with SEC-caliber talent and a lot to prove.
Kentucky’s Transfer Exodus Continues
Wilcox is just one name in a long list of Wildcats hitting the portal this offseason. As of now, 21 Kentucky players have entered the transfer portal, with many already finding new homes ahead of the January 16 deadline.
Here’s where things stand:
- LB Landyn Watson - Committed to Kansas (Jan. 4)
- **EDGE Steven Soles Jr. ** - Committed to Arkansas (Jan.
- QB Stone Saunders - Committed to San Diego State (Jan.
- **WR David Washington Jr.
** - Undecided
- WR Preston Bowman - Committed to Ohio (Jan.
- DT Austin Ramsey - Committed to Kansas State (Jan.
- WR Troy Stellato - Undecided
- EDGE Javeon Campbell - Undecided
- **CB DJ Waller Jr.
** - Committed to Louisville (Jan. 3)
- EDGE Jacob Smith - Committed to Louisville (Jan. 6)
- DL Jerod Smith II - Committed to Louisville (Jan. 6)
- QB Cutter Boley - Committed to Arizona State (Jan. 3)
- WR Montavin Quisenberry - Committed to Louisville (Jan. 8)
- RB Dante Dowdell - Committed to Georgia (Jan. 12)
- S Cam Dooley - Committed to Florida (Jan. 7)
- DB Quay’Sheed Scott - Committed to South Carolina (Jan. 8)
- RB Jamarion Wilcox - Committed to Marshall (Jan. 15)
- WR Cameron Miller - Committed to Ole Miss (Jan. 12)
- WR Hardley Gilmore - Initially committed to Louisville, flipped to Baylor (Jan. 12)
- OT Darrin Strey - Committed to LSU (Jan. 12)
- C Evan Wibberley - Undecided
It’s a significant wave of turnover for Mark Stoops and the Wildcats, who are navigating a rapidly evolving college football landscape where roster continuity is becoming harder to maintain. Whether this mass exodus leads to a reload or a rebuild remains to be seen.
As for Wilcox, his journey now takes him to Huntington, West Virginia - a fresh start, a new system, and a chance to reclaim the promise he once flashed in the SEC. The talent is there. Marshall’s hoping the timing is right.