Kentucky players respected Jordan Dingle's business decision

Andy Staples Picks The Taxslayer Bowl | Clemson Vs Kentucky | 12.27.23

Kentucky received two surprises in the winter transfer portal window. They occurred with the same player. Redshirt sophomore tight end Jordan Dingle entered the transfer portal Dec. 7 taking a visit to Tennessee only to withdraw from the portal on Dec. 16. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops believed the former top-500 recruit in the class of 2021 never wanted to leave the program.

In the locker room, there are no hard feelings despite seeing Dingle leave the team only to return just over a week later. Teammate and fellow tight end Josh Kattus understands what college football is right now. This is a business and business decisions must be made.

“At the end of the day, this is a business. This is the world we live in in college football,” Kattus told the media in Jacksonville on Wednesday afternoon. “We all understood his decision.”

Dingle will return to action on Friday after missing the last two games of the regular season with an unspecified injury. The former high three-star recruit has recorded 33 receptions for 472 yards and three touchdowns during his collegiate career with the Wildcats. The in-state product figures to play a big role in the Gator Bowl and in the 2024 season for a Kentucky offense that will see Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff step in at quarterback.

Dingle’s teammates are happy to have back rocking Kentucky blue.

“I’m excited to see my guy back. We’ve built a relationship over the past two years,” Kattus said. “Obviously, he’s a great tight end and he helps his team a lot. Off the field and on the field. Definitely really excited to have him back.”

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