Kentucky's defensive line appears to be team strength in 2023

With multiple draft picks and big-time run game production, Kentucky’s offensive line has made a name for itself during the Mark Stoops era. However, that group is going through a big rebuild. The guys in the trenches on the other side of the football could be the team’s biggest strength in 2023.

Kentucky alum Anwar Stewart returns for his fourth season as the defensive line coach in Lexington and all signs point to this potentially being the best defensive line of the Stoops era. The Wildcats have stacked good recruiting classes together and could be 8-9 deep this season in the trenches. The group has made a huge impact in spring practice.

“I really feel like we’re pretty stout upfront. As good as we’ve been in awhile,” Stoops told reporters on Saturday. “Getting some good pressure on the quarterback. Better than we’ve probably been in the last couple years and that always helps the secondary.”

In Kentucky’s open practice, the defensive line had its way against Kentucky’s offensive line in the 11-on-11 scrimmage that featured the first-string offense and first-string defense going head-to-head. Deone Walker looked very impressive beating both Tanner Bowles and Paul Rodriguez quickly in isolation to record pass rush wins. The super sophomore also got some help.

Kentucky was able to consistently get pressure on Devin Leary and appears to have bolstered the pass rush in the offseason. The Wildcats finished No. 96 overall in sack rate (5.28%) in 2022 and are needing to replace two starters at cornerback. Creating a more organic pass rush could help Brad White’s defense create more playmaking and take some pressure off some young cornerbacks.

Improving pass rush productivity has been an emphasis this spring.

“We’re just working our hands more,” redshirt junior Tre’vonn Rybka said. “We’ve been focusing on really using our hands, keeping them high and always working on moves, trusting the moves”

“We can get home more. Loosen up on the DBs a little bit. Get to the quarterback. Get some more sacks, more pressures. Make it a little easier on them.”

More pass rush production can be a game changer for Kentucky, but two-way results are still needed. In the SEC, defenses must hold up at the point of attack and slow the running game. The Wildcats have accomplished that task in recent years as this group has added both mass and length to its two-gap scheme. Despite focusing on the pass rush, early signs point to this group holding up well against the run.

“That’s our standard. Thick in between the tackles,” Rybka said. “Don’t let them run the ball. We’re going to make them pass it. As a d-line, that’s what we try to do. We got a standard. They don’t run in between the tackles.”

In Saturday’s open scrimmage, Kentucky’s defensive line was dominant against the run. Stewart’s group has a chance to have a banner season. The Wildcats are meeting the established standard and raising the bar with pass rush development.

The line of scrimmage on defense is what could potentially create a special year in Lexington this fall.