Kentucky is hoping to take a big step forward in 2024 after back-to-back 7-win campaigns the last 2 seasons.

The Wildcats have had an eventful offseason, particularly with adding players via the transfer portal. This week, ESPN’s Blake Baumgartner and Tom VanHaaren broke down the top newcomer at each program that was included in the network’s way-too-early top 25.

For Kentucky, that player is Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Here’s some analysis from VanHaaren on why Dumas-Johnson is set to make the biggest impact as a newcomer in Lexington next season:

The Wildcats had a productive offseason in the transfer portal, adding in Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff, Ohio State running back Chip Trayanum and Texas A&M receiver Raymond Cottrell, among others. Dumas-Johnson was one of the bigger additions, however, given his past success in the SEC and at the highest level with Georgia. He had 70 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks in the 2022 season, when he was a finalist for the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in FBS. He broke his forearm last season, but he accounted for 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in nine games.

Dumas-Johnson is a former Butkus-Award finalist who figures to be a significant part of UK’s defense going into next season. He has 17 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 3 years at UGA.

Kentucky signed 10 transfers during the winter period and could add more when the portal window opens again in the spring. For now, UK’s transfer class sits at No. 15 nationally, per 247Sports Composite rankings.

College football futures are already live at some sportsbooks! Here’s how you can learn more about sports betting in Kentucky so you can get in on the action!