Malachi Wood ready to join the Big Blue Wall: "It's something I've always wanted to do"

On Wednesday afternoon, Malachi Wood was one of the hundreds of talented athletes across the nation that officially put pen to paper. The Richmond, KY native fulfilled a longtime goal of signing to play football at the University of Kentucky.

Wood is one of 17 class of 2023 signees for the Wildcats this recruiting cycle, which ranks 35th in the nation, according to On3. Wood, a uniquely-tall 6-foot-8 offensive tackle, was one of the first high school seniors to get the ball rolling, committing to UK back in early March of this year. The Madison Central prospect is considered a three-star recruit and a top 75 OT in the country.

First recruited to Kentucky by the late John Schlarman, signing a national letter of intent with Kentucky was a long time coming for Wood. He’ll play a role in helping the Big Blue Wall that Schlarman built to bounce back from an unusually disappointing season in the trenches in 2022.

That’s exactly what Wood has been hoping for since before he was ever a Power 5-level recruit.

“It means everything to me,” Wood said on Wednesday about joining the Big Blue Wall. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of that. Whenever Coach (John) Schlarman, when he first started it, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do since just being a fan, not even being a recruit.“

Wood is one of 13 signees or transfers who intend to early enroll at UK next month. After graduating from Madison Central on Tuesday, it’ll be a quick turnaround for him as he plans to arrive on campus in Lexington on Jan. 3 — less than two weeks from the day he signed. Wood will have a leg up on the fellow incoming freshman who won’t join the rest of the group until the summer. He says he’ll focus first and foremost on hitting the weight room and improving his flexibility.

“It was something all the coaches I’ve talked to recommended,” Wood said of enrolling early. “Because you get six extra months of training, getting your body right, and hopefully being ready for the fall.”

Although Wood isn’t the highest-ranked prospect from the ’23 class for Kentucky, that doesn’t mean he isn’t a big-time catch for the ‘Cats. He chose UK over the likes of Purdue, Louisville, West Virginia, Maryland, Kansas, and a few others. The coaching staff is especially intrigued with his towering size and how he can develop into an SEC-level lineman.

Zach Yenser, who is about to enter his second season as Kentucky’s offensive line coach, even made sure to stop by Richmond at the beginning of the week to pay Wood a visit and make sure everyone was still on the same page. From start to finish, the UK staff has made it a point to treat Wood like one of their own before he could even get to campus.

“It just felt like home,” Wood said of why he chose Kentucky. “Through all the visits I went on — talking to all the coaches, the players — it just felt like home, like a real brotherhood. I knew I was going to develop as a player there but also as a man for the future.”