Darian Kinnard, Dare Rosenthal Flip to Natural Positions on Big Blue Wall

Kentucky’s Big Blue Wall looked different on Tuesday by looking more like its old self. Darian Kinnard lined up at right tackle, opposite of Dare Rosenthal at left tackle. After a week of preseason practice, the two talented offensive tackles were back at their familiar positions.

After earning All-SEC honors in 2020, Kinnard opted to return to school for one more season to improve his draft stock. Kentucky welcomed him back with open arms to play left tackle, considered the most lucrative offensive line position by NFL front offices. Liam Coen was happy to recall a former right tackle of his with the L.A. Rams that inked a 4-year, $32.5 million contract.

“Rob Havenstein in Los Angeles got paid a lot of money to play right tackle. It’s so important,” Kentucky’s offensive coordinator said Tuesday. “Obviously, the left tackle is the money man, but you’re going to try to put matchups on the right tackle to get those one-on-ones so that guy’s gotta be very strong and elite. I think Darian recognizes that and he knows he can play at a high level and play fast playing at right.”

Another offseason development changed the offensive line equation for Eric Wolford’s Big Blue Wall: the Wildcats added Dare Rosenthal.

“He has experience playing in our league from LSU playing left tackle,” offensive line coach Eric Wolford said. “He went there as a defensive lineman and they moved him over. He’s got an athletic skill set. In summer training, the latter part of July, we had him over 20 miles an hour, so he’s a guy who can run. He’s got length obviously and just experience. He’s gotten a lot of reps there. When you have a guy that has a lot of reps banked at one position, you go and try to play the other side and it’s different. We’re getting ready to play a big year here and it’s probably the best thing to do for the team.”

To put it simply, each player could have learned a new position, but it didn’t make that much sense. They are already good at one spot, a position they will most likely play at the next level. There’s no need to fit a square peg into a round hole.

“I think it’s just putting guys in a position to be the most successful they can be,” offensive coordinator Liam Coen said. “Obviously he’s more successful and comfortable being on the right side. We want to be able to run the ball that way a lot. That’s our guy that we need to run behind. I think that gives us the ability to do so. He’s more comfortable there and he’s a team player. He’s the type of kid that just wants to do anything to win and that’s what he did.”

“I think Darian has already established that he’s one of the best tackles in the game,” said Wolford, the Wildcats’ first-year offensive line coach.

“Right tackle is natural for him. Much like you, it’s like riding a bike. You don’t have to think about it, just go out there and ride. Then you can focus on the things that you need to work on as far as the new schematic things that we need to do. He can focus on effort, straining. And you know, you look at the combination of Eli Cox and Darian Kinnard on one side there, you’ve got some powerful men there who can move people off the spot.”

According to Wolford, Kinnard accepted the new role in his old spot without hesitation.

“One thing about Darian is he’s a team-first guy. I think when you’ve been through so many practices, we’re four, five, six practices in, you see the same things that we see as coaches as far as who’s the best five we can put on the field at one time and what’s the best positions for them when we can play at the highest level early. We don’t have time to learn on the job. We’ve gotta be good now. Coach Stoops has talked this week about being game ready. That move was best for the football team and that’s what we’re about.”

There is an odd man out that can still play a significant role. Former JUCO blue chip recruit Jeremy Flax performed well at right tackle in the spring, but he’s no Darian Kinnard. Now he’ll be tasked to play some jumbo tight end while spelling Kinnard and maybe even dabble at offensive guard. There’s no shortage of talent on the Big Blue Wall at offensive tackle.