Baylor Football

Hardley Gilmore IV Returns to Kentucky After Baylor Flip Falls Through

The Bears lose transfer wide receiver Hardley Gilmore IV.
By Grayson Grundhoefer
March 3, 2026
13k Views
22 Comments
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Photo by © Jordan Prather

Transfer wide receiver Hardley Gilmore IV has returned to Kentucky, according to KSR’s Jacob Polacheck.

The 6-foot-1,178-pounder flipped his commitment from Louisville to Baylor and signed with the Bears back on Jan. 12, but never enrolled in the school and had not been practicing with the team.

Last fall, Gilmore IV hauled in 28 receptions for 313 yards and a touchdown. He caught a career-high six passes in a blowout loss to No. 14 Vanderbilt.

As a true freshman, Gilmore IV saw action in the final seven games of the season, totaling six catches for 153 yards with one touchdown. He then elected to transfer to Nebraska in the offseason but was dismissed from the Cornhuskers’ program and returned to Lexington.

This is a big loss for the Bears as he was primed to have a starting role at outside wide receiver. Now the staff will either have to bring in another transfer in the summer or roll with a bunch of talented but unproven options at the position.

22 Comments
Tags
Transfer Portal Hardley Gilmore IV Hardley Gilmore Football Baylor Kentucky 2026
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Hardley Gilmore IV Returns to Kentucky After Baylor Flip Falls Through

6,321 Views | 22 Replies | Last: 13 hrs ago by Chuckroast
Bearknuckle
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2:06p, 3/3/26
We hardly knew ye, Hardley.
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Danielsjackson114
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2:23p, 3/3/26
Massive loss
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OurOurs
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2:57p, 3/3/26
Man, this is so typical. Kentucky, Louisville, Nebraska, Baylor, etc. etc. etc.
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BarryMcBear
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3:44p, 3/3/26
3-9
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Fre3dombear
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4:08p, 3/3/26
BoR
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Bearsalwayswin
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4:53p, 3/3/26
meh the one position if any it would be ok to lose one
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FOAB
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5:23p, 3/3/26
I would not loose a lot of sleep over a guy who was dismissed from one program and failed to live up to his contract with another. Seems like he has some growing up to do.
FOAB
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Delmar 2.0
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In reply to Danielsjackson114 • 5:31p, 3/3/26
Danielsjackson114 said:
Massive loss

This guy caught (on avg) 2 or 3 passes a game for 26 yds last year, how is this a massive loss?
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Youre a clown
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8:42p, 3/3/26
I've learned that the same people who downplay every decommit as "not a big loss" are the same people who do cartwheels when we landed the same player initially.
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Youre a clown
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In reply to Delmar 2.0 • 8:43p, 3/3/26
Delmar 2.0 said:
Danielsjackson114 said:
Massive loss

This guy caught (on avg) 2 or 3 passes a game for 26 yds last year, how is this a massive loss?

I have no clue how this comment got 2 stars. The article says 26 receptions for 300 something yards. Still not great stats, but you're dead wrong
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guadalupeoso
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In reply to Youre a clown • 9:02p, 3/3/26
I think he (or she) meant 2 to 3 catcher per game for 26 yards per game, which would be around 30 catches for 300 yards on the year.
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Dia del DougO
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9:52p, 3/3/26
Sounds like a flake. Maybe he'll be good, but I would never bet hugely on a guy like that.
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Aberzombie1892
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In reply to Youre a clown • 9:57p, 3/3/26
Youre a clown said:
Delmar 2.0 said:
Danielsjackson114 said:
Massive loss

This guy caught (on avg) 2 or 3 passes a game for 26 yds last year, how is this a massive loss?

I have no clue how this comment got 2 stars. The article says 26 receptions for 300 something yards. Still not great stats, but you're dead wrong


It seems like the comment may not be being interpreted accurately.
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True Grit
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4:56a, 3/4/26
He was never going to play a down here.
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Bearknuckle
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In reply to Youre a clown • 8:15a, 3/4/26
Youre a clown said:
Delmar 2.0 said:
Danielsjackson114 said:
Massive loss

This guy caught (on avg) 2 or 3 passes a game for 26 yds last year, how is this a massive loss?

I have no clue how this comment got 2 stars. The article says 26 receptions for 300 something yards. Still not great stats, but you're dead wrong

lol no you're dead wrong, Delmar was completely accurate here.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/hardley-gilmore-iv-1.html

Also I'd love to see the receipts of people "doing cartwheels" over Hardley's signing initially...
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Danielsjackson114
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In reply to True Grit • 9:51a, 3/4/26
Staff literally said he was down to be a starter
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Dia del DougO
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10:24a, 3/4/26

Quote:
This is a big loss for the Bears as he was primed to have a starting role at outside wide receiver.


No disrespect, but I don't see how a projection like that is made with his history.
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blackie
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In reply to Danielsjackson114 • 4:06p, 3/4/26
Danielsjackson114 said:
Staff literally said he was down to be a starter

Probably went ga-ga after looking at his conference patch on his jersey.
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Bearknuckle
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In reply to Dia del DougO • 8:51a, 3/5/26
Dia del DougO said:

Quote:
This is a big loss for the Bears as he was primed to have a starting role at outside wide receiver.


No disrespect, but I don't see how a projection like that is made with his history.

Yeah on one level it's honestly a bit concerning that a guy with so little production was being seen as a possible starter rather than a depth piece - doesn't speak well to our depth on the outside. But that said, in the NIL Wild West not everything may be as it seems, and sometimes a little misdirection is a wise move...so who knows.
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DtrBear
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5:07p, 3/5/26
Not a player "commitment" that Baylor needs or should build around. Better to cut early. Good luck elsewhere.
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Smashmouth
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5:12p, 3/5/26
The article says he signed with Baylor on Jan. 12. So apparently signing a player in this new free agency system doesn't mean anything?
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Chuckroast
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In reply to Youre a clown • 5:56p, 3/5/26
Youre a clown said:
Delmar 2.0 said:
Danielsjackson114 said:
Massive loss

This guy caught (on avg) 2 or 3 passes a game for 26 yds last year, how is this a massive loss?

I have no clue how this comment got 2 stars. The article says 26 receptions for 300 something yards. Still not great stats, but you're dead wrong


Plus, it sounds like he got the bulk of his playing time the last six or seven games of the year
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