Vince Marrow expects Big Blue Wall to "really take off" in 2023

Kentucky finished the regular season ranked No. 124 overall and last in the SEC in sacks allowed with 42. The tackles for loss category wasn’t much better, coming in at No. 106 overall with 81 total and 6.75 allowed per game.

An offensive line universally acknowledged as one of the toughest and most physical groups for years under John Schlarman — the unit earned the nickname of “Big Blue Wall” under the late assistant coach — not much went right for the group under first-year OL coach Zach Yenser in 2022. In fact, the line was a disaster at times, a turnstile for defenders looking for clean shots in the backfield.

A big reason for that? Minimal game reps for Kentucky’s young linemen forced to replace three standouts within the unit in Luke Fortner, Darian Kinnard and Dare Rosenthal, all choosing to pursue their NFL dreams last offseason. Schlarman went out of his way to rotate youth in with his veteran talent to minimize the drop-off in production the following season and beyond. Under Eric Wolford, who lasted just one year in Lexington before abruptly taking the same position at Alabama, it was all or nothing with the vets.

That set the line back, which set the offense and program in general back. A clear rebuild was inevitable in what would end up becoming a bridge year for the unit. With zero cohesiveness and chemistry, adversity hit hard. Extremely hard.

There is light, though, at the end of the tunnel, says Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow. Despite the early-season struggles, the unit came together and played fairly well the last two weeks of the regular season, including against No. 1 Georgia. The Bulldogs, widely known as the best defense in college football, managed just one sack, one QB hurry and five tackles for loss.

“God rest my man John Schlarman, I learned a lot from him. We played a lot of young guys this year,” Marrow told KSR on WLAP’s Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “John’s philosophy was, you play a lot of the young guys and eventually, they’ll grow and start gelling and gelling. I thought Jager Burton played one of his best games against Georgia. It wasn’t too big for him, he’s a very physical and athletic guy. Deondre (Buford) came in and didn’t even know he was going to start, played left tackle against a guy who is probably going to be a top-four pick in the draft.”

Offensive guard Tashawn Manning, a super senior transfer from Auburn, is the only rotation player out of eligibility for the Wildcats. Beyond that, Kentucky could potentially return every significant piece on the line, especially if senior Kenneth Horsey chooses to return for his final year of eligibility — a possibility for the program, Marrow says. Do that, and it creates a situation where you have to plug just one major hole through the transfer portal.

Could a year of struggles pave way for a follow-up year of great success? That’s the hope.

“If we can get (Kenneth Horsey) to come back, I think you’re looking at now having Jeremy Flax back, you got Jager Burton back, you got Eli Cox and Ken Horsey back. Then you maybe go get an older guy, but I feel really good about the young guys that we have still,” Marrow said. “Look at (Nikolas) Hall, Kiyaunta Goodwin, a lot of young guys, Grant Bingham. Those guys are true freshmen, they’re going to grow and get better. Spring is going to be good for them. If we test the market, we probably just have to get one older guy like a Tashawn Manning, who filled in really well this year from Auburn.”

The Big Blue Wall was made of construction paper and Elmer’s glue this season. Now, it’s about rebuilding those bricks and stiffening up the wall once again. There’s confidence around the program that will be the case.

“I feel really good and I know the coaches feel really good about that group,” Marrow said. “Honestly I think our O-line — the Big Blue Wall can really take off next year. I really believe that.”