Young pieces of Big Blue Wall could be ready to help Kentucky in 2022

In year two under Liam Coen, the Kentucky offense will have sky-high expectations. Chris Rodriguez Jr. might be the best tailback in college football, Will Levis can be one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, and there is a plethora of depth and talent at wide receiver and tight end.

The only question marks appear to be on the Big Blue Wall. For the first time in a few years, Kentucky has some major holes to fill on the offensive line for a unit that will be on their third position coach in three seasons.

Zach Yenser appears set to take over, and the 49ers assistant coach will be inheriting a strong core. Kenneth Horsey is one of the better offensive guards in the SEC who could potentially kick out to tackle. Eli Cox had a solid first season starting and could be a starter at center. Tashawn Manning was a big transfer add who should be a starter at one of the guard spots. Meanwhile, the recruiting has been strong as the unit has a blue-chip ratio of 53.3 percent.

However, the two tackle spots leave Kentucky with a pair of huge spots to fill. Departing three-year starter Luke Fortner joined KSR on the 11 Personnel podcast, and the star center believes Kentucky may have the answers on the roster.

Redshirt sophomore Deondre Buford is someone folks should not be sleeping on.

“I think Deondre Buford has really matured both physically and mentally,” said Fortner. “He’s a guy who seeing pictures of him his freshman year I realize how big he’s actually gotten and how strong he’s actually gotten. I think physically he’s 100 percent ready to take the job. I think he just has to prove to the coaches that he’s ready mentally — and I think he will. It’s going to be a big spring for him, and I think he’s going to succeed at a really high level.

Buford was a four-star recruiting win for Kentucky out of Detroit Martin Luther King in the class of 2020. The offensive tackle chose Kentucky over Missouri and Pittsburgh and has played in just two games through his first two seasons on campus. Yet, the young player has good length on a 6-foot-3 frame and has added major weight in recent years to hold up at the point of attack. The third-year player could be the answer for the Wildcats at left tackle.

Elsewhere, redshirt junior Jeremy Flax was another blue-chip recruiting win for Kentucky in the class of 2020. Yet another Detroit native, Flax came to Kentucky via junior college and was a starter leaving spring practice. However, the late addition of LSU transfer Dare Rosenthal turned Flax into Kentucky’s third tackle, and the young player did not have a ton of success. However, Flax could be a viable option in 2022.

“Flax is a guy who was ready to take the spot last year, and we had Dare come in and Dare is an incredible athlete,” Fortner told KSR. “But I think Flax has been right there waiting in the wings ready to go.”

A transfer portal visit can still be made and true freshman Kiyaunta Goodwin will be heavily involved in the competition, but the two Detroit products will have a great opportunity in the spring with a clean slate thanks to the addition of Yenser.

Kentucky’s young in-state prospects are progressing

The two tackle spots are going to get all of the attention this offseason, but Kentucky is still attempting to build depth on the interior. In recent classes, the Wildcats have been able to add to the offensive room with quality homegrown talent.

Of the 15 scholarship players in the offensive line room, five came from the state of Kentucky and four of those were blue-chip prospects. Both Jager Burton and John Young will have the chance to give the offense some quality depth on the interior.

“John Young has really made strides this past year, and Jager Burton is unreal athletic,” said Fortner. “They’re going to be good. No doubt about it.”

Overall, the Wildcats are in great shape along the offensive line due to all of the talent and depth at both center and guard. Now Yenser must figure out the tackle position in spring practice.