Once a rising SEC talent, Gilmore’s stint with the Cornhuskers ends just months after leaving Kentucky.
chrisbeasmore A sports writer for A Sea of Blue. Beasmore helps to cover Kentucky football and basketball recruiting and the big games coming up for Kentucky sports.
Former Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Hardley Gilmore IV transferred to Nebraska in late December with hopes of a fresh start and a bigger role — but just over three months later, he’s been dismissed from the Cornhuskers’ program.
Once viewed as a rising star in the SEC, Gilmore’s journey has taken another unexpected detour as Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule confirmed on Saturday that the sophomore wideout is no longer with the team. No further details were provided regarding the dismissal.
Gilmore, a former four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, began his college career at Kentucky with plenty of buzz. Ranked as the No. 367 overall player and No. 56 wide receiver nationally, he arrived in Lexington with a reputation for explosive playmaking.
After missing the first seven games of the season due to a broken collarbone, he returned to the field late in the year and made an immediate impact. In five games, Gilmore tallied six receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown, flashing his big-play potential and earning praise from the coaching staff.
However, just as things seemed to be trending upward, Gilmore entered the transfer portal on December 28. There was early speculation he could return to Kentucky, but within days, he committed to Nebraska — a move that reunited him with former UK wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts and teammate Dane Key, who had also transferred to the Cornhuskers.
With Gilmore gone, Nebraska will move forward without the once-promising receiver. Meanwhile, Kentucky now has a wide receiver room with portal pickups Kendrick Law (Alabama), Troy Stellato (Clemson), and J.J. Hester (Oklahoma), while returning veteran contributors Ja’Mori Maclin and Fred Farrier II. Wide receivers coach L’Damian Washington will lead a group still rich with talent and experience heading into the 2025 season.
As for Gilmore, the former SEC standout’s future remains uncertain — a talented player now searching for yet another opportunity to get back on track.
Saying this, should Kentucky consider bringing Gilmore back to Lexington? Rivals’ Justin Rowland and KSR’s ZacK Geoghegan report that a return to the Wildcats is possible for Gilmore.
If true, Kentucky could sure use some extra firepower at the position. However, Mark Stoops has stressed wanting to build a better culture, and Gilmore was just dismissed from a program.
He was also charged with misdemeanor assault in December for allegedly punching someone in the face at a Lexington storage facility.
Leave a Reply