Dare Rosenthal (No. 51) is a potential high NFL draft pick. (Baton Rouge Advocate Photo)
Let’s give Kentucky coach Mark Stoops and his staff credit for never giving up on a player. Remember cornerback Kelvin Joseph, who opted not to play in UK’s final regular-season game and bowl game? Stoops allowed him to work out at UK’s Pro Day and he ended up a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys. No one at UK ever criticized Joseph for his decision to opt out of the season to prepare for the draft.
LSU starting offensive left tackle Dare Rosenthal was obviously paying attention. When he put his name into the transfer portal, Kentucky was one of the first schools he had interest in and Thursday he finally announced that he was transferring to UK.
“My decision was not based on my athleticism alone,” Rosenthal said on Twitter. “It was based on me attending the University that I believe can help mold and shape me into a better man and help me reach my full potential on the field.”
He said he wants to change the “narrative” about his journey after having some off-field issues at LSU — he missed spring practice last season and briefly left school before returning. Joseph also had some off-field issues but was never a problem at UK.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron has called Rosenthal a potential NFL first-round draft pick. That means UK goes into the 2021 season with two tackles who are potential first-round picks as All-American Darian Kinnard returns to anchor the Big Blue Wall.
“After witnessing UK help a former teammate of mine and considering the experience and success of their offensive line (The Big Blue Wall) it was an easy decision to make,” Rosenthal said on Twitter.
It might be a harder decision for UK to decide where to play him. Kentucky lost starting left tackle Landon Young to the NFL draft but Kinnard made the move from right to left tackle in the spring. He could move back to right tackle and Rosenthal play left tackle or Rosenthal could move to right tackle or maybe even guard where he has some playing experience.
It’s a nice problem to have and just another reason for UK fans to have such high expectations for the upcoming season.
