Kentucky is excited to have Hardley Gilmore back in 2026

The transfer portal era has given players more power. There is constant unrestricted free agency in college football. That means programs can add players to their roster but can also lose anyone off their roster. That creates chaos. There is also not a rule in place that prevents an immediate return to a previous school. Sometimes those can happen in the same offseason. Hardley Gilmore IV is back on UK’s roster again after entering the portal and signing with another program.

After his true freshman season in 2024, Gilmore followed wide receivers coach Dakiel Shorts Jr. to Nebraska and spent the spring with Matt Rhule‘s program before returning to Kentucky. After his sophomore campaign ended, Gilmore entered the portal again. The wideout originally committed to Louisville before flipping to Baylor. After a short stop in Waco, Gilmore was added back on the UK roster in March and is now participating in spring practice. There has been a lot of moving and shaking with this receiver to only play for the same school.

Despite another portal whirlwind, Kentucky is happy to have the junior on the roster.

“Hardley is awesome. That dude loves football…I can figure it out with people who love the game. So I think he’s super grateful to be back a part of this program,” Kentucky wide receivers coach Joe Price III said on Tuesday. “He’s spent a lot of time in this city. I’m super excited to have him as a part of our group. The passion that I’m talking about that we want in the room, he plays with that relentlessly on the field.”

Hardley Gilmore IV recorded six catches for 153 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman. The wideout backed that up with 28 receptions for 313 yards and a touchdown as as sophomore. Gilmore has played 570 offensive snaps through two seasons and gives Kentucky an experience wideout to use in the rotation. The wide receiver was dismissed from the Nebraska program after joining in 2025. Then there was the hopping around to three schools this offseason. UK is happy to have Gilmore back and wants to help the junior with two years of eligibility remaining develop.

“I’m excited about his future,” said Price. “We’re going to continue to grow him on and off the field.”