Keyjuan Brown transfer portal: Top 3 landing spots for Louisville RB ft. Kentucky

The Louisville Cardinals running back room has become a little less crowded, as Keyjuan Brown is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to a Thursday report from On3's Pete Nakos. Brown, a redshirt freshman from Atlanta ran for 243 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Brown had to battle for playing time with Maurice Turner and Donald Chaney from the start of the season, but the breakout seasons from freshmen Isaac Brown and Duke Watson left the South Atlanta High School product without a prominent role in Jeff Brohm’s offense. Chaney has also joined the transfer portal.

Having redshirted in his first season at Louisville, Keyjuan Brown still has three years of college eligibility.

Keyjuan Brown transfer portal landing spots

#3, Missouri Tigers

Missouri’s running back room is in for a change in 2025. Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll, their leading rushers in 2024, played out their final year of eligibility. That leaves sophomore Jamal Roberts (52 carries, 214 yards, three touchdowns) as their leading rusher heading into 2025.

The Tigers landed four-star running back Marquise Davis on Wednesday. However, as was evident from Noel and Carroll, they are OK using transfer running backs.

Another factor is that in the physical Southeastern Conference, it's always important to have depth at the running back position. Having an experienced player for a couple of years should help the program, and Keyjuan Brown figures to be an option.

#2, Michigan State Spartans

Running back has to be a priority for Michigan State looking towards 2025 and beyond. The Spartans were 110th in the nation with 115.3 yards per game at the end of the regular season. Their leading rusher, Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams, is a senior, so the starter spot will be open after a disappointing season.

Junior Nate Carter is slated to come back. His 110 carries and 499 yards ranked second on the team, but the Spartans could use some help in the form of a veteran back. The Spartans have also been open to bringing in transfer running backs in the past, opening the door for a potential Keyjuan Brown arrival.

Lynch-Adams and Carter were the latest running backs to transfer to East Lansing in the last two seasons. But since 2021, Kenneth Walker, Jalen Berger and Jarek Broussard have also joined the team via the transfer portal.

#1, Kentucky Wildcats

If there is one thing Wildcats coach Mark Stoops likes to do on offense, it's running the football. Yet the Wildcats finished an underwhelming 82nd in 2024, with 145.6 ypg. This makes the in-state rival an intriguing choice for Brown.

While leading rusher, freshman Jamarion Wilcox, averages 6.4 yards per rush, he totaled 590 yards during the season. Senior Demie Sumo-Karngbaye led the team in attempts and was second in rushing yards, but he is leaving, so there will be a void there.

Redshirt senior Chip Trayanum, a 2024 Ohio State transfer, figures to be back in the mix after missing most of the season due to injury. But the Wildcats use a running back committee approach, so there should still be a decent amount of touches in line for Keyjuan Brown, should he decide to join Kentucky.