Projecting offensive depth chart for Kentucky football and transfer portal targets to watch

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky football lost five players to the NCAA transfer portal and added two, since it finished spring practice April 11.

As the Wildcats look to push their program-record bowl streak to eight during the 2023 season, Mark Stoops' team is No. 24 in ESPN's latest preseason rankings published May 3.

Though the 2023 roster isn't set in stone — there's still an opportunity to land additional transfer portal prospects between now and the beginning of preseason camp — here's what we know about the offense.

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Quarterbacks

The group: Deuce Hogan (6-4, 217, junior.), Devin Leary (6-1, 217, sixth-year senior), Kaiya Sheron (6-3, 210, sophomore), Destin Wade (6-3, 223, redshirt freshman).

Projected starter: Leary

Analysis: The only uncertainty surrounding this spot during the spring was whether Leary would be healthy enough to take the field after tearing his pectoral muscle last October, which ended his season and N.C. State career. Replacing second-round draft pick Will Levis, he'll use the summer to try to get more comfortable with offensive coordinator Liam Coen's calls and playbook.

Behind Leary, it appears to be a battle between Sheron and Wade for the backup job. During the two open practices this spring, Sheron had the majority of the reps with the second-team offense. But Wade was productive in the first scrimmage and hopes to build off his start in the Music City Bowl loss to Iowa.

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Running backs

The group: Dee Beckwith (6-5, 236, junior), Ray Davis (5-10, 216, fifth-year senior), Ramon Jefferson (5-10, 210, sixth-year senior), JuTahn McClain (5-9, 198, senior), La’Vell Wright (6-0, 214, sophomore).

Projected starter: Davis

Analysis: Much like Leary, Davis was signed with the intent to start immediately, replacing Chris Rodriguez. Last year, Davis became only the seventh player in Vanderbilt history to run for 1,000 yards in a single season.

Beckwith has played sparingly since transferring to UK from Tennessee, but his size and pass-catching skills are unmatched at the position. McClain is a solid change-of-pace option. Jefferson and Wright hope to overcome injuries that have plagued them throughout their college careers.

Expect Jamarion Wilcox, a late addition to the 2023 class, to get a crack at playing time this fall.

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Wide receivers

The group: Jordan Anthony (5-9, 156, redshirt freshman), Anthony Brown (5-10, 168, freshman), Barion Brown (6-1, 166, sophomore), Dekel Crowdus (5-10, 171, sophomore), Dane Key (6-3, 195, sophomore), Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, fifth-year senior), Brandon White (5-9, 167, redshirt freshman).

Projected starters: Barion Brown, Key and Robinson

Analysis: No offensive group is more proven than the wideouts. Barion Brown and Key had superlative freshman campaigns in 2022, and even more is expected of them this fall. Robinson is motivated for a better showing in 2023 after last season didn't live up to expectations (153 receptions, 2,052 yards and 10 touchdowns) following three seasons at Virginia Tech, where he was the Hokies' top threat his final two years.

Anthony Brown showed impressive flashes during the spring. Stoops praised Crowdus as one of the most improved players on the team. Anthony didn't participate in the spring while focusing on his record-setting track exploits, but his speed will give him every opportunity to take the field as a home-run threat for Coen.

The Wildcats also bring in a pair of 2023 wide receiver signees in Shamar Porter (four-star prospect) and Ardell Banks (three-star prospect).

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Tight ends

The group: Khamari Anderson (6-5, 238, freshman), Brenden Bates (6-5, 251, sixth-year senior), Izayah Cummings (6-3, 232, senior), Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, sophomore), Josh Kattus (6-4, 231, sophomore).

Projected starter(s): Dingle and Kattus

Analysis: Injuries decimated the unit this spring; Bates, Dingle and Kattus were sidelined for all 15 practices as they recovered from offseason surgeries. The good news for the Wildcats: It gave Anderson and Cummings more of a chance to make their mark. While Dingle and Kattus likely will receive the lion's share of the reps this fall, UK has plenty of depth behind them.

Offensive line

The group: Grant Bingham (6-5, 321, redshirt freshman), Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, senior), Jager Burton (6-4, 307, sophomore), Eli Cox (6-4, 311, senior), Marques Cox (6-5, 311, senior), Jeremy Flax (6-6, 325, senior), Nik Hall (6-6, 314, redshirt freshman), Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 311, fifth-year senior), Josh Jones (6-6, 343, junior), Koby Keenum (6-4, 295, freshman), Paul Rodriguez (6-5, 324, sophomore), Malachi Wood (6-8, 283, freshman).

Projected starters: Marques Cox (at LT), Horsey (at LG), Burton (at C), Eli Cox (at RG) and Flax (at RT)

Analysis: Bringing in Marques Cox, a Northern Illinois transfer, was a boon for this group, as it allowed Burton, Eli Cox and Horsey to slide one spot to the right from where they played last season. As it stands, Burton, Eli Cox, Marques Cox and Horsey have all but locked down starting jobs.

The same isn't true for Flax. Offensive line coach Zach Yenser made it clear during the spring the right tackle spot is still up for grabs. And he noted that might involve dipping into the transfer portal for more options. And Yenser secured a commitment from former Southern California lineman Courtland Ford last month.

Following Ford's commitment, two players who had been battling Flax at right tackle — Deondre Buford and David Wohlabaugh — entered the transfer portal.

With Ford, there appears to be a three-way battle to become the first-team right tackle — Flax and Hall, who missed the spring while rehabbing an injury, are the other candidates.

UK picked up another transfer offensive lineman, Ben Christman (formerly of Ohio State), on Sunday. He isn't expected to fight for a starting job this fall, but could be a rotational piece at both guard spots.

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Potential transfer portal targets

Even with two recent additions to the offensive line room, the Wildcats might not be done up front: Last week, they offered former Utah lineman Tyler Knaak. He did not play for the Utes as a freshman last season. The 6-foot-7, 306-pound Knaak was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class, according to the 247Sports composite.

UK also offered former Grand Valley State receiver Jahdae Walker. A 6-foot-4, 185-pound wideout from Cleveland, Walker led the Lakers in receiving yards (623), yards per reception among those with at least 10 catches (20.77), yards per game (56.64) and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (four). While he started his career at the Division II level, he's already earning plenty of interest from Power Five teams since entering the transfer portal. Walker also holds offers from fellow SEC schools Mississippi State and Texas A&M as well as Colorado, Illinois, Michigan State and Pittsburgh.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky roster for college football season 2023, NCAA transfer portal