In a surprising turn of events, Kentucky's football program continues to make headlines this weekend as it actively engages with the transfer portal, marking a significant moment for the team's future. On Sunday evening, amidst a flurry of commitment announcements around dinner time, the team proudly welcomed its 11th commitment in just over a day. This latest addition signifies a strategic move as Kentucky has now secured two quarterbacks to bolster their roster.
The newest recruit, JacQai Long, is transferring from Marshall University and becomes the 25th player to join Kentucky's program through the transfer portal. Long hails from Hurricane High School in West Virginia, where he showcased his potential before spending the last two seasons at Marshall under the guidance of head coaches Charles Huff and Tony Gibson. After taking a redshirt year during a successful Sun Belt championship run in 2024, Long made appearances in five games during the 2025 season. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 205 pounds, he finished that year with 31 passing yards and 51 rushing yards (not including sacks). Heading into 2026, Long will be classified as a redshirt sophomore and retains three years of eligibility, giving him ample opportunity to develop further within the program.
With Long’s addition, Kentucky now boasts four scholarship quarterbacks, enhancing the competition and depth within the quarterback room.
Here’s a brief overview of other recent transfers who have committed to Kentucky:
| Player | Position | High School | Former School | Year |
|----------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Olaus Alinen | G/T (6-6, 322) | Windsor (Conn.) | The Loomis Chaffee School | Alabama | Redshirt Junior |
| Jesse Anderson | S (6-0, 180) | Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) | Cardinal Gibbons | Pittsburgh | Redshirt Junior |
| Max Anderson | iOL (6-5, 311) | Frisco (Texas) | High | Tennessee | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Elijah “Bo” Barnes | LB (6-1, 244) | Dallas (Texas) | Skyline | Texas | Redshirt Freshman |
| Jovantae Barnes | RB (6-0, 211) | Las Vegas (Nev.) | Desert Pines | Oklahoma | Redshirt Senior |
| CJ Baxter Jr. | RB (6-1, 227) | Orlando (Fla.) | Edgewater | Texas | Redshirt Junior |
| Ahmad Breaux | iDL (6-3, 278) | Ruston (La.) | High | LSU | Junior |
| Jordan Castell | S (6-2, 213) | Winter Garden (Fla.) | West Orange | Florida | Senior |
| Xavier Daisy | WR (6-3, 210) | Norcross (Ga.) | Greater Atlanta Christian School | UAB | Junior |
| Ja’Kayden Ferguson | WR (6-2, 187) | Missouri City (Texas) | Thurgood Marshall | Arkansas | Sophomore |
| Aaron Gates | Nickel (6-0, 198) | Jacksonville (Fla.) | Trinity Christian | Florida | Redshirt Junior |
| Jamarrion Harkless | iDL (6-3, 315) | Lexington (Ky.) | Frederick Douglass | Purdue | Redshirt Junior |
| Lance Heard | T (6-6, 330) | Monroe (La.) | Neville | LSU | Tennessee | Senior |
| Mark Manfred III | CB (6-1, 175) | Marietta (Ga.) | Sprayberry | Missouri | Redshirt Freshman |
| Kenny Minchey | QB (6-2, 208) | Hendersonville (Tenn.) | Pope John Paul II | Notre Dame | Redshirt Junior |
| Antonio O’Berry | EDGE (6-6, 240) | Huber Heights (Ohio) | Wayne | Tiffin (D-II) | Gardner-Webb | 6th-Year Senior |
| Coleton Price | iOL (6-3, 318) | Bowie (Texas) | High | Baylor | Redshirt Senior |
| Spencer Radnoti | LS (6-3, 230) | Canton (Ga.) | Cherokee | Georgia State | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Cyrus Reyes | S (6-1, 200) | Taylor (Texas) | High | Mississippi State | Junior |
| Mark Robinson | T (6-5, 320) | Longwood (Fla.) | Lyman | UTEP | Junior |
| Hasaan Sykes | CB (6-0, 185) | Tucker (Ga.) | High | Western Carolina | Junior |
| Tavion Wallace | LB (6-1, 239) | Baxley (Ga.) | Appling County | Arkansas | Sophomore |
| Dominic Wiseman | iDL (6-2, 300) | Davenport (Iowa) | High | South Alabama | Redshirt Senior |
| JacQai Young | QB (6-2, 205) | Hurricane (W. Va.) | Marshall | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Adam Zouagui | K (5-11, 188) | Herndon (Va.) | High | Davidson | South Florida | Senior |
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