Covering Kentucky football has given me some unforgettable moments. Usually, that comes in the form of outstanding wins. Sometimes, it\u2019s when things get weird in the KSR world. It\u2019s very rare that recruiting makes the cut \u2014 Kiyaunta Goodwin\u2019s circus is one that comes to mind \u2014 but the transfer portal gave us one of those memorable moments on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
My children had just barged into the office. I finished a post to buy enough time to step away from the computer for some playtime. All that was left was to share a post on social media.<\/p>\n
Then the Twitter notification buzzed. A commitment. Missouri CB Mark Manfred III<\/a> is a Cat. I\u2019ll grab that real quick.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get Ferguson?\u201d Adam Luckett asked me. Ferguson? He committed too? News to me. Luckett was in position to quickly post that the wide receiver popped.<\/p>\n Now there\u2019s a Jacob Polecheck text: \u201cMark Robinson<\/a> is committing too.\u201d Wait? I thought Polacheck was breaking another commitment. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!?<\/p>\n Just when you thought it couldn\u2019t get any crazier, CJ Baxter<\/a> popped. We were preparing for the Texas running back\u2019s commitment almost a week ago. Then Indiana entered the picture, and it looked like he may be a Hoosier. Around lunchtime, KSR got the word that it was not a slam dunk for Indiana. Just like that, Kentucky had a former five-star tailback in its backfield. <\/p>\n In less than an hour, there were four public Kentucky football transfer portal commitments. There\u2019s never been anything like it on this beat, and I\u2019m still gasping for air. To make it even more unforgettable, my two sons were brawling in the middle of it all. When we say \u201cexpect the unexpected,\u201d it\u2019s also a reminder to ourselves. You never know what sort of haymaker is gonna land during the transfer portal, and Will Stein<\/a> delivered one on Sunday.<\/p>\n The New Transfer Portal Commitments<\/p>\n RB CJ Baxter<\/a>, Texas \u2014 The top-ranked running back in the nation played like it as a true freshman before undergoing a season-ending knee injury ahead of his sophomore campaign. Hamstring injuries plagued him in 2025. Looking for a fresh start, Kentucky is giving Baxter a second chance in the SEC. If he can play like the guy from 2023, the Cats got a good one in the backfield. <\/p>\n CJ Baxter just posted this throwback on his Instagram story. Once visiting Kentucky as a five-star recruit before committing to Texas \u2014 now he\u2019s back in blue and white. Full circle moment for the new Cat! \u2014 Jenna Lifshen (@jensreporting) January 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n OT Mark Robinson<\/a>, UTEP \u2014 The 6-5, 320-pound offensive lineman was an all-conference player at the NAIA level as a true freshman. Then he started in every game at left tackle for UTEP last fall. Texas Tech was also in pursuit, but the Wildcats were able to get Robinson in the fold to compete with Malachi Wood<\/a> for the starting right tackle spot. <\/p>\n WR Ja\u2019Kayden Ferguson<\/a>, Arkansas \u2014 A long-time UK commit during last year\u2019s cycle, the Houston native flipped to the Razorbacks and burned his redshirt. A highlight maker on the 7-on-7 circuit, the 6-2 athlete caught 26 passes for 448 yards and six touchdowns during his final year of prep football. <\/p>\n CB Mark Manfred III<\/a>, Missouri \u2014 A three-star recruit a year ago, the Georgia native spent a redshirt season in CoMo. He\u2019s got four years of college football left and is adding length to a wide-open cornerback room.<\/p>\n Backup QB Developments<\/p>\n There was one commitment that happened a few hours after the rush. Marshall\u2019s JacQai Long<\/a> entered the fray to add some depth to the Wildcats\u2019 quarterback room. The 6-2, 205-pound West Virginia native appeared in five games last season and finished the season with 31 passing yards and 51 non-sack rushing yards. He is bringing three years of eligibility with him to Lexington.<\/p>\n Long was not one of the three potential players in Kentucky\u2019s crosshairs to become QB2. Elon\u2019s Landen Clark<\/a> visited Lexington before landing at LSU. Tre Guerra<\/a> came from the JUCO ranks and earned plenty of interest from big-name schools before committing to Coastal Carolina. <\/p>\n Even though the Cats picked up Long, two other options could still be on the table. Ryan Staub<\/a> started in a game for Colorado this year in the middle of their messy QB situation. He visited Kentucky and is still interested in the Cats. Cincinnati and Ohio State are his other options. Luke Moga<\/a> is another interesting quarterback who played for Will Stein last fall at Oregon. An outstanding athlete who was a sprinter in high school, his father played football at Kentucky. Moga entered the transfer portal on Sunday. We\u2019ll keep an eye on him. <\/p>\n Three Big Decisions Loom<\/p>\n The good news started rolling in when we discovered that Tegra Tshabola<\/a> spent his Sunday in Lexington. A two-year starter at right guard for Ohio State, he\u2019s one of the most coveted interior offensive linemen in the transfer portal. He\u2019s been on Kentucky\u2019s radar since he rose to recruiting stardom in the Cincinnati area. Now Kentucky is competing against Auburn and Ole Miss for his commitment. <\/p>\n Former Texas WR DeAndre Moore<\/a> was another well-known Blue Chip recruit who was a two-year starter in Austin. Kentucky got the first crack at the playmaker. He took trips to Colorado and wrapped up a visit to Ole Miss over the weekend. <\/p>\n It feels like the Cats are in a good position for both players. They could provide some headline news when the dead period begins tomorrow. Transfer portal visits will not be taking place across the country from Monday through Wednesday as coaches gather at the AFCA Convention.<\/p>\n
(via C4era on IG) pic.twitter.com\/QqEhzBmBdQ<\/a><\/p>\n