Kentucky Depth Chart: Where the offense sits after spring practice

Kentucky still has a couple more practices to get through this week, but on Saturday the program held a spring scrimmage at Kroger Field. In some bad weather conditions, fans made the trek to the stadium and got to see some college football.

With spring ball wrapping up, that means we are now getting into projection season. The first step is the depth chart and where Kentucky currently stands. Let’s start with the offense with some tweaks made from our previous two-deep released right before spring practice was kicked off.

Quarterback

1. Will Levis (6-3, 232, RSr.)
2. Beau Allen (6-2, 207, RSo.)

Will Levis looked the part in the spring game, and the hype train has not slowed down for the redshirt senior quarterback with NFL tools. The Penn State transfer could make a run at All-SEC honors if everything hits. There is a battle for QB2, but Beau Allen looked the best at the spring game but suffered from a pair of drops with one occurring on a fourth-down scramble throw in the endzone.

Running back

1. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (5-11, 224, RSr.)
2. JuTahn McClain (5-9, 187, Jr.)
3. La’Vell Wright (5-11, 202, RFr.)
4. Michael Drennen II (5-11, 190, Jr.)
5. Kavosiey Smoke (5-9, 201, RSr.)

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is the dude for Kentucky. That is known. However, the spring was big for JuTahn McClain as he’s become the clear No. 2 at tailback. Meanwhile, it appears that Kavosiey Smoke has been passed by both Michael Drennen II and La’Vell Wright.

Fullback

1. Justice Dingle (6-3, 262, RSr.)

A lead blocking back has made its return to the Kentucky offense, and former Georgia Tech transfer Justice Dingle has made a position. From the heavy usage shown in the spring, the Bowling Green (Ky.) High product will have a heavy role as a lead blocker and play-action target in Rich Scangarello’s scheme.

Tight end

1. Keaton Upshaw (6-6, 245, RSr.)
2. Brenden Bates (6-5, 255, RSr.)
3. Izayah Cummings (6-3, 228, Jr.)
4. Jordan Dingle (6-4, 235, RFr.)

Keaton Upshaw has made his return to the offense and is in the starting lineup with Brenden Bates. Both Izayah Cummings and Jordan Dingle will provide quality depth at the position.

Slot

1. Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 185, Sr.)
2. Chauncey Magwood (6-0, 180 So.)

Expect a heavy volume workload for Tayvion Robinson out of the slot this season. The Virginia Tech transfer will help Kentucky immediately. Thanks to heavy tight end usage, depth is not necessarily a must-have requirement for this position this season. Do not be surprised if Barion Brown and Dekel Crowdus get long looks at this position.

X receiver

1. Javon Baker (6-2, 206, Jr.)
2. Dane Key (6-3, 195 Fr.)

Expectations are still high for Alabama transfer Javon Baker, but the junior will have some competition for a starting position when he arrives on campus. True freshman Dane Key was a revelation for the Wildcats during spring ball, and the legacy recruit will play this season.

Z receiver

1. DeMarcus Harris (6-1, 183, RJr.)
2. Dekel Crowdus (5-10, 180, RFr.)
3. Barion Brown (6-0, 175, Fr.)

DeMarcus Harris currently holds the third starting receiver spot, but some other potential contributors were not available during spring practice. Dekel Crowdus should be fully healthy for fall camp, and top-100 recruit Barion Brown will arrive in the summer. Meanwhile, Kentucky also got redshirt freshman Chris Lewis reps at both X and Z during the spring.

Left tackle

1. Deondre Buford (6-3, 295, RSo.)
2. Kiyaunta Goodwin (6-8, 330, Fr.)

Deondre Buford is the guy at left tackle leaving spring practice, and Kiyaunta Goodwin is currently getting the lion’s share of the reps with the twos. However, redshirt freshman David Wohlabaugh Jr. is rotating in with the ones and appears to be Kentucky’s best option at a swing tackle in 2022.

Left guard

1. Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 300, RSr.)
2. John Young (6-6, 302, RSo.)

One thing spring practice told us was that new offensive line coach Zach Yenser has no positional switch planned for Kenneth Horsey. The redshirt senior with 21 career starts enters the year as one of the better guards in the SEC. Former four-star recruit John Young emerged as the top backup and could be in line for rotation snaps this season.

Center

1. Eli Cox (6-4, 293, RJr.)
2. Quintin Wilson (6-1, 294, RSr.)

Eli Cox has made the transition from right guard to center and will be snapping the ball to Will Levis. Quintin Wilson is a quality bench player who will likely be the top backup option at all three of the interior positions.

Right guard

1. Tashawn Manning (6-4, 340, Super)
2. Jager Burton (6-4, 280, RFr.)

Auburn grad transfer Tashawn Manning looks to be a terrific find as the super senior is a boulder in pass protection and gives the offense great power in gap schemes. The future is still bright for Jager Burton, but the Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass product still has time to serve before taking over a starting position.

Right tackle

1. Jeremy Flax (6-6, 356, RJr.)
2. David Wohlabaugh Jr. (6-6, 290, RFr.)

Jeremy Flax was one of the top stories of spring camp, and the former junior college transfer appears to have locked up a starting. However, Wohlabaugh is clearly pushing for playing time as a redshirt freshman.

Expectations should be high

Kentucky does enter the 2022 season with some unknowns on offense. Rich Scangarello is taking over for Liam Coen at offensive coordinator, and the program is on its third offensive line coach in three seasons. Meanwhile, there are huge questions at offensive tackle, and Wan’Dale Robinson left a ton of production to be placed.

However, Kentucky has its best quarterback returning for another season as a starter for the first time since 2007. That could mean big things for the offense that is expected to keep most of the same schemes installed by Coen last year.

Will Levis gives the unit a chance to be great, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. might be the best running back in college football. Meanwhile, the interior of the offensive line is very strong, and the tight end group is one of the top positional units in the country. Great recruiting work has totally reshaped the wide receiver room.

Kentucky has a chance to field a top-15 offense this season. That is something the program has not done since 2007.