Landon Young, UK Athletics Photo
Almost every day it seems like there is some new type honor for the Kentucky offensive line. On Wednesday it was tackle Landon Young and center Drake Jackson both being named to the all-SEC first team by media members and tackle Darian Kinnard making the second team.
Have all the accolades impacted the offensive linemen in any way?
“It’s business as usual. Big men lead the way,” said UK offensive coordinator Eddie gran. “As good as they are up front, they still have a lot on them. They are going to find out real quick (against Auburn) how good we are and how good we can be. Auburn will be a heck of a challenge for everybody on offense, but especially up front because they are really good.”
Kentucky returns four starters — Young, Kinnard, Jackson and guard Luke Fortner — and coach Mark Stoops says that experience is always a plus but could be even more valuable this year due to no spring practice and limited preseason work due to COVID-19.
“I think experience is a big factor. These guys have seen a lot, that really helps. We were good a year ago and hopefully we’ll take it to another level,” Stoops said.
“I think it’s very good for these guys to have some experience and get all the different looks. Talent never hurts either and we have some talented guys but we’ll see that each and every week this year.”
Count Auburn coach Gus Malzahn as a believer in the UK offensive front.
“They’re talented, they’re big, strong guys. The fact that they are one of the best rushing teams in all of college football in this league, you know that’s really what jumps out to you,” Malzahn said.
“If you look at both, both their offense and defensive lines, that’s where some of their strengths. They got most of their guys back and we lost most of our guys on the offensive front and defensive front, so that’s going to be a challenge and our guys are aware of that. That’ll be a big factor but I’m real impressed with their offensive line.”
Young says the UK offensive line has the mentality to punish opponents and dominate a game.
“We go out there and realize that if we do what we do during the week and we do what our coach teaches us to do, you can blow these guys off the ball,” Young said. “We can open up holes for these running backs to have these big, explosive plays. We can protect the quarterback to make those big, explosive plays, even the routine ones.
“We just want to make sure that we come out there and we’re dominant and that the other team knows it. If they’re going to stop us they have to earn every single blade of grass.”
