Kentucky OL Deondre Buford may start at right tackle vs. South Carolina

While most Kentucky fans are concerned about Will Levis‘ status against South Carolina, whoever is playing quarterback will likely line up under center behind a banged up offensive line.

In the final drive of the Kentucky loss to Ole Miss, right tackle Jeremy Flax hobbled down the field before falling to the turf. An apparent hamstring injury, he did not return for the final few plays of the game. David Wohlabaugh filled in at right tackle in Flax’s absence.

“It was a shame Flax went down later,” Mark Stoops said Monday. “I thought he was physical as heck and moving people and playing hard and I think that was coming together better.”

Stoops provided no further details about Flax’s injury. However, Ryan Lemond did state earlier this week on KSR that the hamstring injury may keep Flax out for a few games. Matt Jones has learned Deondre Buford has been taking reps with the ones at right tackle during practice this week.

A four-star recruit from Detroit in Kentucky’s high-profile 2020 recruiting class, Buford primarily played right tackle during fall camp. Once the season rolled around, he moved to the second team right guard behind Tashawn Manning on the Kentucky depth chart.

Injuries have forced first-year offensive line coach Zach Yenser to roll out a variety of lineups on the Big Blue Wall. If Deondre Buford starts in Flax’s absence, the Kentucky offensive line will have only started its top five blockers in three games six weeks into the 2022 season.