1 week ago
2
Twin brothers Jacob Smith and Jerod Smith II, who were once viewed as major recruiting wins for Kentucky Football, plan to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it officially opens Jan. 2, according to multiple reports.
The Smith twins returned to their home state of Kentucky for their final year of high school in 2023, a move that helped then-recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow flip both former Michigan commits to Lexington. Now, both defenders are seeking new opportunities after two seasons in the program.
Advertisement
Jacob Smith, an outside linebacker, will be a redshirt sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining in 2026. Injuries limited his development during his time at Kentucky, and he did not log a defensive snap as a redshirt freshman. He appeared in three games overall without recording a statistic.
Jerod Smith II, meanwhile, emerged as a rotational contributor along the defensive line. After playing 54 snaps as a true freshman, he took on a larger role in 2025, appearing in 12 games and totaling 27 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and 10 pressures over 283 snaps. He was expected to be part of Kentucky’s defensive line rotation next season, but those plans appear to be going out the window for Will Stein and Co.
Both players were highly rated recruits coming out of Corbin High School, with Jerod ranked a top-100 national prospect and Jacob a top-20 edge rusher in his class.
The Smiths join a growing portal list as Kentucky navigates a pivotal offseason marked by significant roster turnover.
English (US) ·