Film Room: Wallace Unamba

Offensive line was a position that Kentucky addressed with volume in the transfer portal. New offensive line coach Eric Wolford has 17 scholarship players on the 2025 roster and nine of them were not on the team last season. That group is highlighted by five transfer additions.

Kentucky is expected to have at least four first-year transfers starting with Evan Wibberley (center), Joshua Braun (guard), Alex Wollschlaeger (right tackle), and Shiyazh Pete (left tackle) expected to be plug-and-play additions. But the other transfer addition could play a big role.

Wallace Unamba was the fifth transfer portal addition for Kentucky on the offensive line. The former junior college player started his FBS career at FIU in 2023 before moving to New Mexico in 2024. The Texas native will come to the SEC as a redshirt senior and give the Wildcats some needed positional flexibility.

Unamba projects as Kentucky’s swing tackle but also might be able to compete for a starting spot at guard along with Jalen Farmer and Jager Burton. KSR’s Film Room is taking a closer look at the veteran’s 2024 tape.

Size and movement

Wallace Unamba (6-4, 330) played primarily right tackle in 2024 for New Mexico’s spread option offense with some time spent on the left side in unbalanced formations. The Lobos leaned gap-heavy in the run game and Unamba showed off both power and movement skills. In pass protection, the tackle was hard to get around thanks to his arm length and power in the lower half.

Wallace Unamba plays comfortably in his pass set and shows off his length in protection. His long arms make it difficult for defenders to maneuver around him. The right tackle also shows IQ and feel for position when passing off stunts. The New Mexico transfer plays with good balance and positioning. In the run game, Unamba does a good job of playing locked on and getting his hips turned over to create seals. The lineman flashes good hand placement, some torque, and that helped the Lobos spring multiple explosive runs against a good Auburn front.

This Kentucky transfer addition brought two way value to his offense in 2024.

Positional versatility

Wallace Unamba played tackle for New Mexico, but the Mountain West does have a guard body type. The transfer could become a backup tackle for Kentucky, but the skill set is there for this player to compete for a starting guard spot immediately. Unamba brings length and mass to the table along with the ability to win in the run game.

Penalties (6 in 699 snaps) were an issue last season, but Unamba held up well in protection and was an asset for New Mexico in the run game. Kentucky is adding an experienced player who once again checks the pass protection box, but could also give the guard position some more mass.

Wallace Unamba projects as a true utility player for the Kentucky offensive line who could be used in multiple spots, but do not be surprised if a full position switch is made to guard. Kentucky needs more interior size and movement along the interior. Unamba could check all of those boxes.

The redshirt senior will play a role for this offense in 2025.