Dylan Ray Emerges as Contributor on Kentucky Offensive Line

This offseason Kentucky was active on college football’s waiver wire. Some additions were celebrated as program-changers. Others were barely a blip on the Big Blue Nation’s radar. That was the case when Dylan Ray announced he was transferring from West Virginia to Kentucky. If you had zero expectations to hear about Ray this fall, don’t worry, the redshirt sophomore feels the same way.

“I didn’t really have any expectations,” he told KSR. “When I first got here, I just wanted to keep my head down and keep that chip on my shoulder and grind as hard as I could and see where it takes me.”

That approach has taken him to the opening depth chart of the 2023 season. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder from Noblesville, In. is listed as the second left tackle on two-deep, and he’s also cross-training at offensive guard. Switching between the two positions is a challenge, but one he must master in order to contribute to the Big Blue Wall this fall.

“At the end of the day a good O-lineman should know every single position on the field,” said Ray. “If someone goes down, injury or whatever, you gotta be ready to step up and try to take that role, know multiple positions.”

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‘Chippy’ Dylan Ray still Learning

Ray did not arrive transfer to Kentucky until after the conclusion of the spring semester. He hasn’t been in Lexington for long, but his mentality quickly earned respect in the locker room.

“He just plays the game like it’s supposed to be played. He plays through the whistle and he plays tough,” offensive line coach Zach Yenser told BBN Tonight.

“We talk about it all the time, not taking crap off of anybody. We always say the defense will do as much as you allow them to do. If you’re going to continue to let them put their hands in your face, they’re going to continue to put their hands in your face. It’s our job to police that as offensive linemen and Dylan has that little chippiness to him that he doesn’t take crap off people. He’s a guy that our guys respect a lot and he’s earned that respect this whole summer and this whole training camp.”

He’s learned a lot, but he still has a long way to go. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen needs to see erase the mental mistakes before he’s ready to regularly roll Ray out onto the football field.

“He did some really good things during training camp at times and had some some things he knows he can improve on. There’s times where he has some great sets, some great run blocks, some great fundamentals and techniques. And there’s some other opportunities where we’re scoring a touchdown, but he’s not blocking the right guy or doing the wrong thing. That comes with repetition,” Coen said earlier this week.

The Kentucky offensive coordinator needs to be able to trust Dylan Ray to protect his quarterback. The Big Blue Wall has some solid pieces in the starting lineup. If the reserve offensive tackle can consistently play assignment-sound football, No. 73 will be playing more than anyone expected this fall.