John Schlarman and the Big Blue Wall's NFL Draft Legacy

Once upon a time, Kentucky’s offensive line was a punchline. Now it’s one of the most well-respected units in football, both at the collegiate and professional level. John Schlarman was the mastermind behind the cultural transformation in Kentucky’s trenches and the evidence of success is still piling up.

Just a few months after Schlarman returned to Lexington as a member of Mark Stoops’ original coaching staff, Larry Warford was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Warford was the first Kentucky offensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft in 20 years. Now the Big Blue Wall has created a streak of players picked in the Draft.

For three straight years at least one Big Blue Wall alumnus has been drafted. That streak will extend to four in 2022. If all goes well in April, there could be seven UK offensive lineman drafted over the last four years. All-American Darian Kinnard will likely be the first to hear his name called, projected as a second rounder that will likely slide down from tackle to guard. He credits his former coach for putting him in a position to succeed.

“John Schlarman — you can’t replace that man and what he did for the program was unmatched,” Kinnard said Thursday. “He would come in everyday with a smile on his face and high energy, even with what he was going through, he sacrificed what he could for the team. He really gave his life for the team. Having guys come through (the draft) every year since I’ve been in college means a lot.”

Two of Kinnard’s former teammates are also at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Left tackle Dare Rosenthal was an early entry into the draft, and somewhat of a surprise. On the fringe, one franchise will likely take a flyer on him in a late round.

Nobody has improved their stock more over the last year than Luke Fortner. A staple at guard for years under Schlarman, he used the COVID-19 eligibility waiver to slide down to center. Now one of the most coveted interior offensive linemen in the draft class, Fortner is a projected mid-round selection. He worked his way into this position, behavior he learned from his coach.

“Everyday he preached hard work and everyday he lived what he preached,” said Fortner. “I’m sure he’d be very proud of us all.”

This group of talented offensive linemen will not be the last to hear their name called at the NFL Draft. Kenneth Horsey will play a prominent role this fall, while Eli Cox attempts to replicates Fortner’s success by sliding down to center. One of Schlarman’s final recruits, Jager Burton, has all of the tools to be in a similar position in a few years. The legacy of John Schlarman’s Big Blue Wall takes many forms. The evidence is tangible at the NFL Draft.