Kentucky Football Countdown: No. 65 John Schlarman

The countdown to the 2022 Kentucky football season has reached an iconic number, John Schlarman’s No. 65.

A man of the Commonwealth, Schlarman starred for Ft. Thomas Highlands’ 1993 AAA State Championship team, then rocked the Power K for four years in Lexington. As a true freshman he started, helping the Wildcats win the first ever Battle for the Governor’s Cup. By his senior season the left guard was a first team All-SEC selection.

Following his playing days he immediately got into coaching, first in the Kentucky high school ranks. Schlarman spent three years as an offensive line GA on the UK sideline from 2000-02. Schlarman bounced around to a few different high schools before landing at Troy in 2007. After coaching offensive linemen for six seasons, he returned to his old Kentucky home alongside Neal Brown as an inaugural member of Mark Stoops’ coaching staff.

It did not happen overnight, but brick by brick Schlarman methodically built the Big Blue Wall. By the 2016 season, the Wildcats were imposing their will on opponents, paving the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and transforming into perennial Joe Moore Award contenders.

Ahead of the 2018 season Schlarman was diagnosed with cancer. Despite the murky prognosis, he never showed any signs of weakness and continued to show up to work each day “for the team.” During his cancer battle he produced two of the most memorable Kentucky football performances of our time.

Searching for a win in The Swamp, Kentucky snapped a 31-game losing streak to Florida by rushing for 303 yards and an eye-opening 7.4 yards per carry. He was awarded the game ball after the emotional win. Back on the road two years later, Kentucky was up against another streak. He delivered a powerful message ahead of the game in Knoxville.

“Don’t fool yourself for one second. These mother f*****s don’t respect you. They don’t respect your ass. You gotta take it from them. Every man in this room,” he said. “Do it for your brother next to you. Do it for the guys who aren’t here, who aren’t able to do it right now.”

Kentucky took a win from Tennessee. The Wildcats had a pair of pick sixes in a 34-7 victory, UK’s first at Neyland Stadium since 1984. “You come together, nobody can stop you,” he said in the locker room while holding the game ball.

It was Schlarman’s last game on the sideline.

The Wildcats have honored Schlarman in a variety of ways over the last two seasons. Different members of the UK offensive line have taken turns wearing No. 65. This year the jersey is going back into the rotation.

Johnson Central product and former four-star recruit, Grant Bingham, was one of the last players Schlarman recruited. The interior offensive lineman will proudly honor his legacy by wearing the number throughout his Kentucky career. He will likely redshirt this fall, but Bingham’s future wearing No. 65 in Kentucky blue is bright.