The roster shuffle continues in Nashville, as Vanderbilt wide receiver Boski Barrett has announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens in January. Barrett, a redshirt freshman, saw limited action this past season, appearing in four games without recording a stat. He was listed as a third-string option behind Junior Sherrill and Trent Hudson on the Commodores’ most recent depth chart.
Barrett shared the news on social media, thanking his coaches, family, and the Vanderbilt program for their support, while expressing optimism about the next chapter in his football journey. He emphasized his desire to find a new program where he can continue to grow both on and off the field, and noted that he has three years of eligibility remaining.
Coming out of Knoxville’s Webb School, Barrett was a notable recruit in the 2024 class. A 3-star prospect, he was a long-standing priority for Vanderbilt’s staff and flipped to the Commodores after initially committing to Wake Forest. His recruitment drew interest from several SEC programs, including Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Arkansas - a sign of the potential coaches saw in his skill set early on.
At 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, Barrett was projected to be a slot receiver in Vanderbilt’s offense, but he never quite carved out a consistent role. He appeared in just one game as a true freshman - the 2024 Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Tech - where he was targeted once on a deep ball from quarterback Diego Pavia that fell incomplete. According to Pro Football Focus, Barrett logged 26 offensive snaps during the 2025 season.
His departure leaves Vanderbilt with some continuity at the wide receiver position, but also a few questions. The Commodores are expected to return two of their three starters at wideout - Sherrill and Tre Richardson - while Richie Hoskins departs due to expired eligibility.
Depth-wise, the team still has Tristen Brown, Kayleb Barnett, Martel Hight, and Joseph McVay in the mix. However, Hight, who played both ways in 2025, is expected to move back to defense full-time.
Barrett becomes the first wide receiver from Vanderbilt to announce his portal entry this offseason, but he’s the seventh player overall to do so - and the sixth from the offensive side of the ball. The Commodores have already started rebuilding, landing a commitment from Maurice Veney, a 3-star tight end transfer out of Division II Morehouse College.
It’s worth noting that Division I players can’t officially enter the portal until January 2 unless their head coach was fired - and that exception doesn’t apply to Vanderbilt. So while Barrett and others can announce their intentions now, no official moves or commitments to new programs can be finalized until the calendar flips to 2026.
For Vanderbilt, this is another step in what’s shaping up to be an offseason of transition on the offensive side of the ball. And for Barrett, it's a chance to reset and find a new opportunity - one where he can get on the field and show why so many programs were high on him just a couple of years ago.