The Kentucky Wildcats have dipped back into the transfer portal and once again found success, this time landing a commitment from Lexington native.
A defensive tackle transferring from Purdue with two years of eligibility remaining — announced his pledge to Kentucky. The news was first reported by KSR’s Jacob Polacheck.
A standout from nearby Frederick Douglass High School, the 6-foot-3, 345-pound interior lineman was a three-star recruit in the 2023 class. He ranked No. 888 nationally, No. 96 among defensive linemen, and seventh in the state of Kentucky according to the 247Sports Composite. Harkless drew offers from a loaded list of programs, including Kentucky, Georgia, Ole Miss, Auburn, LSU, Louisville, Michigan, South Carolina, and Illinois, before choosing Purdue.
After redshirting in 2023 and earning rotational snaps in 2024, Harkless emerged as a full-time starter this past season. He finished the year with 13 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss, providing a steady presence along the Boilermakers’ defensive front.
While he may not always fill up the stat sheet, Harkless brings exactly what every defense needs in the middle — a massive, immovable space-eater capable of controlling the line of scrimmage. By occupying blockers and collapsing running lanes, he can free up teammates to make plays behind the line. Kentucky will be counting on him to play that role in Jay Bateman’s defense this fall.