Zach Yenser shows Kiyaunta Goodwin a path to become the next Trent Williams

Throughout Kiyaunta Goodwin‘s prolonged five-plus year recruitment, Kentucky had three different offensive coordinators and three different offensive line coaches. By the time Goodwin arrived in Lexington, he was learning from two guys that just coached his favorite NFL player.

Over the last two seasons, Zach Yenser served as the assistant offensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers. He worked daily with nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams. Last year Rich Scangarello joined the offensive staff, the same year Williams earned his first First Team All-Pro nod. Goodwin is happy to have the opportunity to work with the guys who helped Williams take his game to new heights.

“It’s amazing. It’s great, actually,” Goodwin said in his first official interview as a Wildcat. “Trent Williams is my favorite offensive tackle in the league, so having two guys that worked with him, I’m able to ask a lot of questions about the stuff that makes him as great as he is. I’ve obviously watched a lot of his film and stuff, trying to bring his game into mine. Having two guys that worked with him over the last couple of years is amazing.”

Before teaming up with Yenser and Scangarello, the former five-star prospect has had the chance to speak with Williams multiple times. He’s learned a thing or two from the 11-year vet. “His independent hands and his down block are some of the things I’ve brought into my game,” Goodwin said.

This spring the 6-foot-8, 355-pound true freshman has embraced every challenge SEC football has to offer. Of course, there were some early struggles in the sophisticated playbook, but he’s learned and grown from the competition. When it’s time to battle in the trenches, he wants to see JJ Weaver lined up on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

“I love it, I love to compete. I feel like it brings out the best out of me,” says Goodwin. “When I’m being challenged, that’s when I’m at my best.”.

Since Liam Coen began throwing Cooper Kupp’s name around when discussing Wan’Dale Robinson‘s play, Kentucky fans have tried to compare skill players with professional counterparts. Since Scangarello took the reins, we’ve been looking for UK’s Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. It’s probably wiser to look to the Big Blue Wall where Kiyaunta Goodwin might become the Wildcats’ Trent Williams.