Kentucky Defensive Line Bulks Up, Keeshawn Silver Impresses

As our friends at Morgan & Morgan so often remind us, Size Matters. The Kentucky defensive line made a concerted effort to get bigger this offseason and it stood out to Mark Stoops in the Wildcats’ first spring practice of 2023. The Cats got bigger in the weight room and through the portal.

Octavious Oxendine flashed in the 2021 season, earning SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors on the same day he suffered a season-ending knee injury. During the rehabilitation process, he lost weight. Even if it was not the primary culprit behind his dip in production in 2022, it certainly played a role. This offseason the North Hardin product put some of that weight back on to withstand the physicality of playing in the trenches in the SEC.

“Ox is a guy that we’re counting on,” said Stoops. “He’s been around here for a few years now. It’s nice to see him make a conscious effort to put on some weight, add some strength and be more of a factor.”

A decision by the Kentucky head coach may have helped. Stoops slightly altered the Wildcats’ offseason workout regimen to re-prioritize the pillars of the program.

“Sometimes you just gotta reevaluate and hit the reset button, look at certain things and don’t forget who we are. I put it on me, not on the team, on myself,” said Stoops.

“You know, after you’ve been around here for a few years, I can’t just assume they’re going to understand who we are and what our identity is and how we’re going to do things. That’s my job. And there were probably things that I could have done better going all the way back to last winter. And so I’m not gonna let that happen again.”

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Keeshawn Silver Passes Mark Stoops’ Eye Test

The transfer portal has been kind to the Kentucky Wildcats. For the first time in a long time, this offseason the Wildcats lost a starter when Justin Rogers transferred to Auburn. When asked how the team has addressed the matter, Stoops was quick to retort.

“You mean the guy that’s out there at 6-5, 330? He’s pretty damn good, and got three years left. So I’m pretty impressed with Keeshawn (Silver), I really am. He’s a monster. We got to get better, but I like the look of him… I think we’re in good shape.”

Keeshawn Silver was a top 25 recruit in the country when the five-star talent signed with North Carolina in the 2021 class. Injury problems and weight issues prevented him from making a significant impact for the Tar Heels. Now receiving a fresh start in Lexington, it’s abundantly clear that Mark Stoops believes he can line up alongside Deone Walker to create one of the biggest front lines in the SEC.

“He’s a big dude. I know he showed up today. We got to put pads on and all that, but he’s a big dude and he can move. You put him in the front with some of those guys that we have — Ox really put on a lot of weight, Kahlil (Saunders) is out right now with injury, but he’ll be back and you know, with (Jamarius) Dinkins being such a big boy and of course Deone. Put him (Silver) next to Deone and that those are some big dudes. I like that size. He’s very athletic. I think we’re excited about working with him.”

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