Grant Bingham, Nikolas Hall could be wild cards on Kentucky offensive line

In Kentucky’s highly ranked 2022 signing class, top-100 recruit Kiyaunta Goodwin got the lion’s share of attention. The former five-star prospect was recruited by everyone in college football and went down as one of the biggest recruiting wins of the Mark Stoops era.

Unfortunately, Goodwin lasted just one season at Kentucky before entering the transfer portal. The former blue-chip recruit took a visit to Florida this weekend. But there are two other four-star recruits from that signing class still on campus.

As Kentucky looks to rebuild its offensive line, most of the focus this offseason has been on transfer portal additions. But two young talents in Zach Yenser’s position room could have a chance to make some noise this spring before potentially stepping into huge roles as redshirt sophomores in 2024.

Grant Bingham can provide depth at guard

Alabama transfer Tanner Bowles was added to the roster by the Wildcats in the offseason and the expectation is that the redshirt senior out of Glasgow (Ky.) High will be in a competition battle at right guard with Lexington (Ky.) Fredrick Douglass product Jager Burton. Meanwhile, Kenneth Horsey should slide inside back to his natural position at left guard.

Grant Bingham has a great chance to emerge as a future option for Kentucky at offensive guard.

The Paintsville (Ky.) Johnson Central product has good size (6-5, 318) and an athletic background. A former high school tennis player, Bingham received heavy recruiting interest from Michigan and Notre Dame before committing to Kentucky. The redshirt freshman was listed as a backup guard for the Music City Bowl and could be in line to earn a starting spot as a redshirt sophomore when Horsey moves on.

Bingham will be a player to watch closely this spring as the former four-star prospect is a key part of the Big Blue Wall’s future.

Nikolas Hall could possibly compete for starting tackle spot

Northern Illinois transfer Marques Cox was added as a plug-and-play starter at left tackle. The Illinois native will enter the year as LT1. But right tackle is a little bit different.

Jeremy Flax returns but the former junior college transfer struggled in his first season as a starter. Deondre Buford played a combined 194 snaps last season as Kentucky tried the former top-500 recruit out at right guard, right tackle, and left tackle. However, the transition was rocky.

In the first transfer portal window, Kentucky did not address right tackle. Buford and Flax will enter the spring in a competition at right tackle and David Wohlabaugh Jr. could also be involved. But don’t sleep on Nikolas Hall.

The legacy recruit was an All-American Bowl selection as a senior at Austin (Texas) Akins. The four-star prospect picked the Wildcats over Texas A&M, Arizona State, and Oklahoma State. Hall has pedigree, good length (6-6, 307), and positional athleticism. All the traits seem to be there for him to grow into Kentucky’s left tackle of the future. The plan could be for him to take over that spot in 2024 after Cox leaves. But he could also be an option at right tackle now.

Both Bingham and Hall are in line to be starters in 2024. That development plan must get kickstarted during spring football.