Film Room: Tucker Kattus

Offensive line recruiting never truly stops in college football. Kentucky has brought Eric Wolford back to the Joe Craft Football Training Facility after a two-year stint at Alabama to help rebuild the Big Blue Wall. On Wednesday, the Wildcats added their first trench piece in the 2025 recruiting class.

It’s a name that most in the fan base are familiar with.

Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier junior Tucker Kattus decided to end his recruitment on KSR with Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, and Shannon The Dude on Wednesday. Now it’s time to learn more about the three-star prospect who owned numerous power conference offers.

The third Kattus to join the Kentucky football program will bring a translatable skill set to the run game operation in Lexington. Similar to his older brother, Josh, the next Kattus can move bodies in the trenches.

Power Player

Tucker Kattus (6-5, 300) is a multi-year starter for powerhouse St. Xavier. The Bombers play against top competition every year and Kattus has become an integral part of the offense. The three-star recruit plays a physical brand of football.

The latest Kentucky offensive line commit can move people and finish blocks. Kattus plays with a hot motor and heavy hands.

On the first cut-up, Kattus gets locked on and does not stop until the whistle. The St. Xavier tackle buries the defender 15 yards past where the block begins. The prospect plays with a nasty streak, and you see that play out with how Kattus finishes blocks. In the traditional run game, Kattus has raw natural power as a striker due to heavy hands. The 2025 prospect can knock people backwards with his hand striking and that creates room in the running game.

Tucker Kattus creates movement.

Positional Athleticism

More often than not, offensive linemen are not the most athletic players on the field. Playing in the trenches, there is not often a lot of room for movement with so much close-area contact going on. However, there are certain athletic movements needed.

Whether climbing up to the second level or getting locked on in pass protection without losing balance, Tucker Kattus plays with functional athleticism in the trenches.

In the zone scheme, Kattus flashes the lateral movement skills to climb up to the next level and locks onto smaller defenders to complete blocks. In pass protection, Kattus is at his best against north/south rusher where he can use his point-of-attack strength to stone rushes. The offensive line prospect also possesses good grip strength allow go grab and sling defenders to the ground.

Tucker Kattus is a fit for Kentucky.

Tucker Kattus checks boxes for Kentucky

Tucker Kattus likely knows the Kentucky football program better than any other 2025 recruit. The youngest Kattus has two older brothers on the team and has been spending fall weekends in Lexington for two seasons now. Kattus knows what type of culture he is stepping into, but that is not the only reason why he is a good fit for the Wildcats.

Early in spring practice at Kentucky, there has been a lot of talk of playing with more physicality on offense and getting downhill in the run game. That is Kattus’ biggest strength as a prospect. The top 30 player in Ohio is a mauler in the run game.

Kattus has played both tackle spots for St. Xavier but projects as a guard prospect at the next level. The prospect has a good frame, possesses play strength, and fits the mold of what Kentucky prefers in offensive line prospect. The 2025 prospect is a downhill power player with heavy hands and plus-level finishing ability.

The Wildcats still need to address tackle in a big way during this recruiting cycle, but Kattus gives the program a high-floor prospect at guard that fits the player profile mold at Kentucky. Players with a similar run-blocking skill set and playing style have succeeded in the offensive line room in Lexington.