Film Room: Anfernee Crease

Kentucky had a need in the offensive line room with the arrival of the spring transfer portal window coming on Tuesday. The Wildcats did not wait for that window choosing to take an alternate transfer route. That route is one we have not seen the Wildcats use in a few cycles.

Jeremy Flax was Kentucky’s last junior college transfer. The Independence Community College transfer picked Kentucky over Auburn and went on to become a two-year starter in Lexington.

Will Anfernee Crease do the same?

The Navarro College transfer spent two seasons in junior college before committing to SMU just over two weeks ago. However, Kentucky remained persistent in this recruitment and flipped the offensive line prospects with three years of eligibility remaining. Crease received some legitimate interest on the trail earning offers from Colorado, UCF, Oregon State, Texas Tech, California, Syracuse, and Houston.

Kentucky had a real need at tackle that had to be addressed. Anfernee Crease (6-6, 310) likely isn’t a plug-and-play starter, but he does bolster the room and provide some needed insurance at a premium position. The transfer owns a left tackle profile with good movement skills and a high ceiling.

Mobility and power in the run game

Anfernee Crease is on record saying the biggest strength in his game is in pass protection, but there is an intriguing skill set shown in the run game. At the junior college level in Texas, Crease shows mobility and power on tape.

Crease shows off good position athleticism when asked to move laterally and climb to the second level. The transfer also flashes strong power at the point of attack on a double team. The movement and power combine as a puller to create a successful block.

The newest addition to Kentucky’s offensive line can fit both zone and gap schemes at the college level. Some strength will need to be added in a strength and conditioning program, but Crease’s ability to move and strike was on full display at Navarro in 2023.

Natural ability shown in protection

A case can be made that Anfernee Crease is a true left tackle. The biggest reason for that case could be due to the natural ability shown in pass protection. The junior college transfer does a good job mirroring edge rushers and even has flashed off some advanced technical moves at this point in his development.

Crease’s pass protection profile currently has a high floor and high ceiling.

At left tackle, Crease shows off what looks like a snatch and trap technique to create a clean pocket and also finishes pass sets consistently. The prospect does a good job using his large frame to mirror in protection. His athletic ability and size combo make it difficult for defenders to turn the corner on the edge. The best way to beat the prospect right now is likely through power moves inside. That is not something many could likely do in junior college.

Kentucky now has a legit future plan at left tackle

Marques Cox is entering his second season at Kentucky and his last in college football. Kentucky did not have a real option for the future in 2025 on the roster outside of the former Northern Illinois transfer. That is no longer the case.

Anfernee Crease has the goods to become Kentucky’s starting left tackle in 2025.

The junior college transfer owns a big frame, shows play strength, and is putting some advanced technical movements in pass protection on tape. Kentucky just added a player who will likely fill a backup role in 2024, but this is someone you could realistically project to be a multi-year starter in Lexington with an NFL Draft ceiling.

The newest Kentucky tackle likely needs to add some weight to his frame, but there are some tantalizing tools for Eric Wolford to work with. The newest addition can move and finish. That gives the Wildcats something real to work with at tackle.