How does Kentucky rebound in 2023: By restoring the brand of the Wildcats' 'Big Blue Wall'

NASHVILLE — Mark Stoops was right. It’s obvious why Kentucky stumbled from a 10-3 season in 2021 to a 7-6 finish last year, including a 21-0 shutout loss to Iowa in the bowl game. 

The Wildcats’ famed Big Blue Wall crumbled. 

For a program built on physically, they couldn’t block — run or pass. After losing a trio of offensive linemen to the NFL and a position coach to Alabama, Kentucky’s front five struggled to form a cohesive group all season. 

Will Levis was sacked into submission, as UK allowed an SEC-most 47 sacks. The Wildcats averaged just 3.26 yards per carry and scored only nine rushing touchdowns — both worst in the SEC. 

“I think it’s pretty obvious that we have to get back to being who we are at Kentucky. And we’ve always been a physical football team, and it started up front and playing physical on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and I feel like we fell short of that a year ago,” Stoops said on Day 3 of SEC Media Days. 

“Obviously we have to improve. We have to protect the quarterback. We have to be physical and have some balance. We went out and hit the transfer portal with some players that will help us on the offensive side of the ball and protect the quarterback.”

Pinpointing Kentucky’s OL struggles in 2022

Stoops fired offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and brought Liam Cohen back to Lexington after a one-year pitstop in the NFL. The Wildcats added NC State quarterback Devin Leary to replace Will Levis. They return their top five pass catchers and plucked a 1,000-yard rusher from the portal in Vandy transfer Ray Davis.

But those additions won’t flourish if Kentucky’s ‘Big Blue Wall’ is still a patchwork of misaligned pieces. Coen called it his “top priority” to fix UK’s offensive line during the spring, and as we inch closer toward fall camp, there’s optimism that a unit plagued by a lack of chemistry and connectivity is on the same page. They believe they can restore the brand. 

“A lot of our mistakes were self-inflicted last year. We have plenty of talent in the room. … We can’t have so many blown assignments,” senior guard Eli Cox told On3. 

Part of Kentucky’s issues last season centered on inexperience. It lost three key starters off the 10-3 team — all of whom were seen as foundational pieces of ‘The Big Blue Wall.’ Likewise, new offensive line coach Zach Yenser couldn’t quite replicate the work of his mentor John Schlarman — the famed OL coach who coined the ‘Big Blue Wall’ nickname and sadly died of cancer two years ago.

“I don’t think Yenser got a fair shake last year,” Cox said. 

“There was a lot of transition with guys in our offensive line, recruiting classes that didn’t see a coach all the way. We had Schlarman, another coach, (then Yenser). Three years with three different coaches.

“We had to replace three starters, and they were good starters. Dare Rosenthal. Luke Fortner was a stalwart for the Jaguars, playing every single snap. Darian Kinnard was a draft pick for the Kansas City Chiefs, All-Conference, All-American who won just about every single award you can at Kentucky. Those guys aren’t easy to replace. Those aren’t just your everyday, run-of-the-mill starters. They were bought in and part of the founding pieces of the Big Blue Wall. Losing that production, that leadership, was tough. It was a tall task to replace them, but we have guys who can build on last year’s performance and the new faces we added this year, (too).”

Cox is one of four starters back for Kentucky in 2023, but the assembled unit will look nothing like it did last season. 

Mercifully so for Big Blue Nation. 

After playing center in 2022, Cox is moving back to his natural position at guard. Similarly, super-senior Kenneth Horsey is switching from left tackle to guard after a rough showing on the edge last season. The Wildcats brought in multiple transfers competing for spots, with Northern Illinois Marques Cox and his 33 career starts as the projected left tackle. 

If it all coalesces as planned, Kentucky’s offense should make a seismic leap this fall. It won’t be worse than 112th nationally in scoring and the second-most sacks allowed in the entire Power 5. 

It can’t be, right? 

“Last season was not the best from the offensive line,” Cox told On3. 

“It puts a chip on your shoulder because the media doesn’t understand everything going on in that room day-in and day-out. But you’re going to see a different OL on the field this year. We’re excited to turn a new leaf and change that perception and return to being the Big Blue Wall we always have been.”