One of Kentucky Football’s top offseason pickups won’t be suiting up for the Wildcats next season.
Tru Edwards, a wide receiver transfer from Louisiana Tech who committed to UK in January, has instead signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Edwards, ranked as the No. 158 overall transfer and No. 30 wide receiver by 247Sports, was still awaiting NCAA clearance due to a rule allowing former junior college players an extra year of eligibility. However, within the UK program, expectations were low that he would be granted eligibility.
A product of Mansfield (Texas) Legacy High School, Edwards started his college career at Navarro Junior College before stints at Hawaii and Louisiana Tech.
At Louisiana Tech, he was named First Team All-Conference USA after tallying 77 catches for 897 yards and six touchdowns last season. Across two seasons with the Bulldogs, he amassed 107 receptions for 1,270 yards and eight touchdowns.
Tru is the son of Troy Edwards, a Louisiana Tech legend who won the 1998 Biletnikoff Award and was a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999. Troy also spent time with the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Detroit Lions.
Edwards was expected to significantly strengthen Kentucky’s wide receiver corps, which saw major departures this offseason with Dane Key, Barion Brown, Anthony Brown-Stephens, and Brandon White all moving on.
To bolster the group, the Wildcats brought in Kendrick Law (Alabama), Troy Stellato (Clemson), J.J. Hester (Oklahoma), and welcomed back former UK receiver Hardley Gilmore IV (Nebraska).
Ja’Mori Maclin returns as Kentucky’s top producer from last season, leading returning players with 313 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Maclin and Fred Farrier II share the team lead in receptions among returnees with 13 each.
Meanwhile, in the 2025 NFL Draft, Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was picked in the first round by the Buffalo Bills, and nose tackle Deone Walker went in the fourth round, continuing a streak of seven straight drafts where multiple Wildcats were selected.
Additionally, several former Wildcats landed NFL deals as undrafted free agents: safety Zion Childress (Dallas Cowboys), linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Green Bay Packers), offensive tackle Marques Cox (Denver Broncos), and center Eli Cox (Houston Texans).
The NCAA launched the transfer portal on Oct. 15, 2018, allowing athletes to explore other opportunities without needing prior permission from their coaches.
Once players request entry, their names typically appear within 24-48 hours, and other schools can then recruit them without restrictions.
While entering the portal signals a player’s intent to explore options, it doesn’t guarantee a transfer, and players can withdraw at any time — though schools are not obligated to continue honoring their scholarships once a player enters the portal.
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