Kentucky just added star power to its secondary from the transfer portal.<\/p>\n
Shortly after visiting Kentucky, Jordan Castell<\/a> announced<\/a> he is committed to Kentucky. Castell chose the Cats over Ole Miss and LSU. He has one year of eligibility remaining. <\/p>\n \u201cThe main reason I picked Kentucky is Coach [Jay] Bateman, who had a huge impact in that, Coach AB [Allen Brown], and the safeties coach [Josh Christian-Young],\u201d he told Jacob Polacheck of KSR Plus. \u201cI believe in everything that they\u2019re building there. I think we\u2019re going to be a pretty good team this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Bateman was an assistant at Florida when Castell began his college career in Gainesville. <\/p>\n A Top-20 safety in the 2023 recruiting class, he won a starting role in his second-ever college football game and never gave it up. Castell was an ESPN Freshman All-American and named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. He started in 34 straight games, only missing two to minor injuries during his junior campaign. He tallied 50+ tackles in each season, totaling 169, 3.5 TFLs, 1 sack, and 3 interceptions.<\/p>\n Castell is the second former Florida defensive back to transfer to Kentucky this week. Aaron Gates<\/a> will suit up for the Cats next fall and is expected to play nickel. UK\u2019s nickel in 2025, Quay\u2019sheed Scott<\/a>, recently entered the transfer portal. Safety Cam Dooley<\/a> is also on the move and could follow his former coaches to Gainesville. <\/p>\n Castell is a plug-and-play starter with invaluable experience in the SEC. He\u2019ll line up next to\u00a0Ty Bryant<\/a>\u00a0next fall, giving the Wildcats an exceptional 1-2 punch at safety. This position should be a strength of the team in 2026. <\/p>\n Kentucky will very likely have the most experienced safety tandem in college football next season. Ty Bryant and Jordan Castell own a combined 60 starts, 3,384 snaps, 331 tackles, 7 INT, and 15 PBU. pic.twitter.com\/cTcjt637jx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Kentucky Free Agency Additions<\/p>\n We\u2019re still less than a week into the transfer portal period, and the Wildcats have added 13 players to the 2026 Kentucky football roster.<\/p>\n QB\u00a0Kenny Minchey<\/a>, Notre Dame<\/p>\n IOL\u00a0Coleton Price<\/a>, Baylor<\/p>\n LB\u00a0Tavion Wallace<\/a>, Arkansas<\/p>\n DT\u00a0Ahmad Breaux<\/a>, LSU<\/p>\n EDGE\u00a0Antonio O\u2019Berry<\/a>, Gardner-Webb<\/p>\n CB\u00a0Hasaan Sykes<\/a>, Western Carolina<\/p>\n DB\u00a0Aaron Gates<\/a>, Florida<\/p>\n IOL\u00a0Max Anderson<\/a>, Tennessee<\/p>\n RB\u00a0Jovantae Barnes<\/a>, Oklahoma<\/p>\n DT\u00a0Jamarrion Harkless<\/a>, Purdue<\/p>\n OL\u00a0Olaus Alinen<\/a>, Alabama<\/p>\n WR Xavier Daisy<\/a>, UAB<\/p>\n