Oklahoma transfer RB Jovantae Barnes commits to Kentucky

Oklahoma senior transfer RB Jovantae Barnes has committed to Kentucky, On3’s Hayes Fawcett reports. He has one year of eligibility remaining after playing in just four games for Oklahoma this season.

Across four seasons in Norman, Barnes totaled 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns on 294 carries. He visited Kentucky on Jan. 4 (per KSR+), and committed to newly hired head coach Will Stein just two days later.

The Las Vegas native is poised to be one of Kentucky‘s go-to running backs, as Seth McGowan exhausted his eligibility and Dante Dowdell entered the Transfer Portal. Kentucky remains in the running for Texas running back Cedric Baxter Jr., meaning the Wildcats’ backfield could be comprised of both sides of the Red River Rivalry if Baxter Jr. commits.

Barnes’ best career season came in 2024, when he rushed for 577 yards and five touchdowns in Oklahoma‘s first season of SEC play.

BREAKING: Oklahoma transfer RB Jovantae Barnes has Committed to Kentucky, his agent tells @On3Sports

He totaled 1,469 yards and 13 TDs in his time with the Sooners

Repped by @lvrgfootball https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/yVgMWBH30a

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 6, 2026

Following Oklahoma‘s 24-17 win over Auburn on Sept. 20, Barnes did not suit up for Brent Venables‘ program again to preserve his redshirt.

“I think every case is a case of its own, based on what that person has been and the body of work,” Venables said, via SoonerScoop. “So, trying to navigate that appropriately, just like you would with discipline in the moment or big discipline issues. We have a set of rules. But, again, how you treat everybody based on, again, maybe it’s a young guy, so you give him more grace.

“An older guy, man, you should know better, things like that. So that’s really the way dealing with it is based on, again, who they’ve been since they’ve been here. And at the end of the day, we have a different environment that’s not the players’ fault; they have lots of different options now. I look at it with that lens as well. Can’t blame guys for wanting a little more of this or that and looking out for their futures.”

Barnes will now spend his final season of eligibility in Lexington.

Kentucky’s Transfer Portal Additions

Jovantae Barnes is the ninth Transfer Portal addition for Kentucky.

• RS-Fr. OL Max Anderson (Tennessee)
• Sr. RB Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma)
• So. EDGE Ahmad Breaux (LSU)
• RS-So. CB Aaron Gates (Florida)
• RS-So. QB Kenny Minchey (Notre Dame)
• RS-Sr. EDGE Antonio O’Berry (Gardner-Webb)
• RS-Jr. OL Coleton Price (Baylor)
• Fr. CB Hassan Sykes (Western Carolina)
• Fr. LB Tavion Wallace (Arkansas)

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.