Daikiel Shorts Jr., who starred at wideout at West Virginia as a four-year starter and eventual team captain, has emerged as Kentucky's top target for its next wide receivers coach.
Sources told FootballScoop Friday that Shorts Jr. was in Lexington, Kentucky, and meeting with coach Mark Stoops, offensive coordinator Liam Coen and the rest of the UK coaching staff.
Kentucky also is preparing for a significant recruiting weekend, with official visits taking place in the coming days prior to the dead period that precedes Wednesday's start of the December early signing period.
Late last month Stoops parted with former wideouts coach Scott Woodward, and the Cats saw a couple of their top wideouts enter into the NCAA Transfer Portal.
But Shamar Porter has withdrawn his name, and UK also pulled a commitment from Ja'Mori Maclin at the position once the staff secured the commitment of Georgia transfer-quarterback Brock Vandagriff.
The young Shorts Jr. has climbed quickly through the coaching ranks after he spent the 2017 season as a member of the Buffalo Bills' practice squad.
The 29-year-old Shorts Jr. first worked for Dana Holgorsen, his college coach, for a year at West Virginia and then followed Holgorsen to Houston, where Shorts Jr. spent his first two years there in a personnel role.
Prior to the 2021 season, Holgorsen elevated Shorts Jr. to the Cougars' wide receivers coach. There, Shorts Jr. helped coach three Houston wideouts to earn four different all-conference accolades.
Kentucky faces Clemson later this month in the Gator Bowl, the program's record eight-straight bowl berth under Stoops.