Tag: troy stellato

How the new Kentucky receivers stack up to the lost transfers

Comparing Kentucky’s new receivers to those they lost this offseason.

Kentucky football has never had problems bringing in key talent — particularly at receiver. From Wan’Dale Robinson to Randall Cobb, there has been no shortage of Wildcat pass-catchers making their way to the NFL.

That may be the case with this upcoming wide receiver room, as Kentucky’s newly added wide receivers are looking to be one of the strongest in the SEC.

Coming into this window, the Wildcats were staring down the loss of Barion Brown, Dane Key, Hardley Gilmore IV, and Anthony Brown-Stephens. All four committed elsewhere.

Related: Kentucky football lands All-American edge rusher

In total, Kentucky lost the following production from each:

Dane Key: 47 rec, 715 yds, 2 TD

Barion Brown: 29 rec, 361 yds, 3 TD

Hardley Gilmore IV: 6 rec, 153 yds, TD

Anthony Brown-Stephens: 5 rec, 77 yds, 2 TD

Since the portal opened, Kentucky has added a slew of receivers: Louisiana Tech’s Tru Edwards, Clemson’s Troy Stellato, Oklahoma’s JJ Hester, and Alabama’s Kendrick Law.

The four had the following production:

Tru Edwards: 85 rec, 989 yds, 6 TD

Troy Stellato: 25 rec, 264 yds, TD

JJ Hester: 14 rec, 315 yds, TD

Kendrick Law: 10 rec, 105 yds, TD

It’s a stark difference, as the Wildcat’s new receivers outgunned their transfer portal losses by 47 receptions, 367 yards, and a single touchdown.

If Kentucky wants things to turn around in 2025, they’ll need more of that kind of production from the new receivers.

Former Clemson wide receiver transfers to an SEC school

Stellato is heading to the SEC.

Former Clemson wide receiver Troy Stellato has officially found a new home. The 2024 transfer portal entrant has signed with Kentucky, where he will look to make an impact in the SEC.

Stellato spent three seasons with the Tigers, totaling 66 catches for 616 yards and two touchdowns during his time in Clemson’s system. Injuries hampered his production, but the talented receiver hopes a fresh start and a healthy season with the Wildcats will lead to a breakout year. Kentucky reportedly beat out West Virginia and Michigan as Stellato’s final destination.

In 2023, Stellato played in nine games (five starts), recording 25 catches for 264 yards and a touchdown before a hand injury cut his season short. Following the season, Stellato announced his transfer portal intentions on December 3, expressing gratitude to Clemson for the opportunities and relationships built during his time there.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Stellato heads to Lexington to reignite his college career.

Kentucky lands former Clemson wide receiver Troy Stellato

Kentucky has landed wide receiver Troy Stellato from the transfer portal.

Kentucky football is going to have a very different looking wide receiver room in 2025. After losing three key players, with Hardley Gilmore being the most recent, Mark Stoops has had to hit the transfer portal. On Wednesday, he added former Clemson Tigers receiver Troy Stellato per Pete Nakos of On3.

Stellato played in nearly every game over the past two years, and totaled 65 receptions for 600 yards and 2 touchdowns. His season ended early in 2024 because of injury, but he has great potential.

Related: Kentucky targeting a top cornerback in the portal

The 6’1″, 190 lb Stellato was originally a four star recruit in the 2021 class. He was ranked as a top 250 recruit by 247sports, and the number 32 wide receiver of the class.

Stellato joins J.J. Hester and Kendrick Law as transfer portal additions at the receiver position so far. The Wildcats offense was abysmal in 2024, and largely responsible for the poor record. Stoops and his staff hope he’s just one piece of the puzzle that helps revive the offense, and gets Kentucky back to winning.

Michigan football loses out on another WR target

Onto the next. #GoBlue

Michigan football has one incoming wide receiver transfer, but beyond former Indiana wideout Donaven McCulley, the Wolverines have struggled to bring in pass catchers.

One target hailed from Clemson in senior Troy Stellato, who had the Wolverines in his top group along with West Virginia and Kentucky. Stellato was a little-used wide receiver with the Tigers, but given that the maize and blue need to upgrade their room in a big way, though it’s not that they’ll take anything they can get, they definitely need bodies.

However, as we’ve seen often, especially in the transfer portal and recruiting, Michigan football lost the battle for Stellato to Kentucky.

With Stellato off the board, Michigan will be looking toward Appalachian State wide receiver Kaedin Robinson and Louisiana Tech WR Tru Edwards as well as others who emerge. But at this juncture, it’s unclear who is actually considering the Wolverines and who the maize and blue will be able to land in this cycle. Though the spring cycle may produce more results.

Kentucky is in the final three for transfer portal receiver Troy Stellato

Kentucky has made the final three for former Clemson receiver Troy Stellato.

Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats coaching staff is continuing to try and rebuild their depleted wide receiver unit through the transfer portal. After losing three important pass catchers from the 2024 roster, they’re left with a bare cupboard. Adding former Clemson receiver Troy Stellato would help.

Per On3’s Pete Nakos, Stellato is considering joining the Wildcats and has them in his final three. West Virginia and the Michigan Wolverines are the other two schools.

Related: Kentucky lands a big time defensive lineman

The 6’0″, 175 lb Stellato was a four star recruit in the 2021 class. He was ranked as a top 200 player overall and the number 30 receiver. In three seasons with the Clemson Tigers, he totaled 65 receptions for 600 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Stellato just visited Lexington, and could make a decision fairly soon. He would join Kendrick Law and J.J. Hester as receivers added out of the portal this offseason.

The 2025 season will be a big one for Stoops and company after the disappointment of this year. Finding a quality wide receiver unit will continue to be a big part of that.

Michigan football makes top 3 for former four-star WR from Clemson

Gotta get this guy.

Michigan football put most of its eggs in the Skyler Bell basket at wide receiver but with Bell opting to remain at UConn, the Wolverines need to diversify their options at the pass catcher position.

One name that’s recently come up is former Clemson wide receiver Troy Stellato, a former four-star who is looking for new digs. The Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons wideout has had four years of experience as a 2021 recruit, and intends to visit Ann Arbor before he makes his decision.

And, according to On3, Stellato has narrowed his list of suitors down to three: Michigan football, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Here is how he ranked as a recruit according to the recruiting services:

* Ovr Pos St
247Sports Composite 4 178 30 25
On3 Industry Ranking 4 294 43 41
247Sports 4 227 32 28
On3 – – – –
ESPN 4 238 42 36
Rivals 4 136 16 21

In 2024, the 6-foot-1 receiver had 25 catches for 264 yards and one touchdown. His most productive year was 2023, when he had 39 catches for 337 yards and one touchdown.

Dabo Swinney says transfer wide receiver ‘hasn’t burned a bridge’ with Clemson

Swinney still has a lot of love for this now former Clemson wide receiver.

Wide receiver Troy Stellato is moving on from Clemson, with the redshirt junior set to enter the transfer portal when it opens next week. Stellato, who has two years of eligibility left, will not join the team for Saturday’s ACC Championship Game against SMU.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney commented on Stellato’s decision Wednesday. TheTigers head coach having nothing but love for the now former Tiger.

“He just wants a bigger role,” Swinney said. “He’s a great kid. Y’all know I love the ‘Italian Stallion.’ He’s one of my favorite dudes. He loves football. He just wants to be the one or two, and that’s just not where he is. He could be, and he has been here or there. But with the guys that we have on the roster and the guys coming back, he just wants a little bigger role. It’s not that big a deal.”

Injuries hampered the early part of Stellato’s career, but he became a regular contributor over the past two seasons, starting six games in 2023 and five more this year. His 2024 campaign was cut short following an eight-snap performance against Pitt on November 16, as a thumb injury ultimately required surgery and ended his season.

Stellato’s decision comes as he seeks a bigger role moving forward. This season, he tallied 25 catches for 264 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a career-best seven receptions and 74 yards against Virginia. While Stellato showed promise in Clemson’s offense, he’ll now look for opportunities elsewhere.

Clemson wide receiver announces plans to enter the transfer portal

Clemson is losing a talented wide receiver to the transfer portal.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football team will head to the ACC Championship game without a veteran wide receiver.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Troy Stellato will be entering the transfer portal, ending his time with the Tigers. According to reports from multiple sources, the young wide receiver was not happy with his role on the team.

Stellato’s 2024 campaign was cut short after he played just eight snaps against Pitt due to a thumb injury that required surgery. Head coach Dabo Swinney announced afterward that Stellato would miss the remainder of the season.

Stellato joined Clemson as a highly-touted recruit in the 2021 class but played in only two games his first season and missed all of 2022 due to an ACL injury. He broke out in 2023, tallying 38 receptions for 321 yards and a touchdown. This season, he added 25 catches for 264 yards and another score, with career highs of seven receptions and 72 yards in the win over Virginia.

The speedy receiver will enter the portal next week with two years of eligibility remaining.

Clemson wide receiver Troy Stellato out for the remainder of the season

Clemson loses a wide receiver for the rest of the season.

Cade Klubnik and the Clemson offense will be down a pass catcher as one Tigers season has ended early.

Head coach Dabo Swinney shared during his weekly press conference on Tuesday that redshirt junior Troy Stellato will miss the rest of the season due to a thumb injury. According to Swinney, Stellato had been playing through the injury for some time.

“He tore his thumb, got to have surgery on it Thursday, so he’s going to be done. Tough break there. He’s been battling for a couple of weeks. He’s been trying but can’t play like he wants to play.”

Stellato, who has dealt with multiple injuries throughout his Clemson career, has been a key contributor this season, recording 25 catches for 264 yards and a touchdown. Despite his setbacks, Swinney praised the receiver’s perseverance. “He’s been battling a lot of injuries but kept getting up, just kept getting up,” Swinney said. “I hate it for him, but it’s just another part of his story.”

Other Tigers will have to step up without the talented wide receiver.

Clemson wide receiver Troy Stellato needs ‘a little cleanup surgery’

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gave an injury update on wide receiver Troy Stellato.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney met with the media after Wednesday’s practice and updated them on wide receiver Troy Stellato’s injury status.

Since joining the Tigers, Stellato has dealt with many different injuries. The most recent injury came during practice on Monday when Stellato reportedly appeared to tweak something in his right leg. According to Swinney, Stellato likely won’t finish spring ball with the injuries as he will require a ‘cleanup surgery’ at some point.

“Troy’s always banged up. Always,” Swinney said. “I’ve never seen him when something’s not hurting on him. He’s got a hurt thumb or finger or something, but he battles through. He’s a tough kid.

He’s actually a guy that probably will not finish spring,” Swinney said. “He needs a little cleanup surgery. But we made the decision that he needed to really get all the spring he could get before we did that. We don’t want him to miss any of the summer, so that’s why we didn’t do it before the spring. Because if you know anything about Troy, he hasn’t really had a spring. He hasn’t had much of a spring or a fall camp since he’s been here. So, it’s really important for him. It’s not something he can’t play with, but we need to get him cleaned up so he can be really 100 percent.”

Stellato has proven to be a viable deep threat in the Tigers’ offense when healthy. He heads into the 2024 season with 30 catches for 336 yards and a touchdown in 603 snaps over 14 games (six starts).