Darian Kinnard (UK Athletics Photo)
Darian Kinnard says no one could ever replace former Kentucky offensive line coach John Schlarman — and that’s no disrespect to new UK offensive line coach Eric Wolford. Schlarman, a former UK player, passed away during the 2020 season after a two-year bout with cancer.
Kinnard developed into an All-American under Schlarman and after contemplating leaving for the NFL, he opted to return to UK for his senior season. He’s now going through his first spring practice under Wolford.
“You could never replace John Schlarman. Simple as that,” Kinnard said. “He is the type of man that cannot be copied and pasted. That enthusiasm of his cannot be replaced or copied.
“But at the end of the day it is up to us to take coaching and work off the field. He (Schlarman) is not around. He’s been a big factor since I got to college on how my game developed. All the guys he put around me helped me get better, too.”
Kinnard called it a “wonderful” time he spent with Schlarman but now he understands he has to adjust to Wolford and his personality and energy.
“He’s a good fit here and will get along with guys who have been here with John,” Kinnard said. “We are all still going to be playing for John (Schlarman). We are still going to be wearing the No. 65 (Schlarman’s UK jersey number), still playing rough and rugged like he wanted us to. That won’t change. Count on that.”
