LSU transfer Dare Rosenthal puts another future NFL draft pick in UK's offensive line this season. (LSU Athletics Photo)
Kentucky’s offseason plan was to shift All-American right tackle Darian Kinnard to left tackle this season to fill the spot of Landon Young, a sixth-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints left. Kinnard seemed to make a smooth transition to his new spot in spring practice and embraced the idea of showing NFL scouts his versatility. Jeremy Flax gained the confidence of the UK staff at right tackle in Kinnard’s vacated spot.
The offensive line seemed set … then LSU tackle Dare Rosenthal recently transferred to UK. He started at left tackle for LSU last year and, like Kinnard, is viewed as a potential NFL first-round draft pick.
So who plays where now? Does Kinnard move back to right tackle and Rosenthal play left tackle like he did at LSU? Does Kinnard stay at left tackle and Rosenthal move to right tackle or maybe guard?
Those are questions I posed to former UK all-SEC running back Anthony White on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports.
“The ideal thing would be if Rosenthal is comfortable at left tackle and shows he can do the job. You are going to get a good look with them going against our defense. If he can do it, then maybe move him to left tackle,” White said.
“Then you could move Kinnard back to where he was an All-American and Rosenthal on the left. But if Rosenthal has issues and Kinnard has shown he has the left side locked down, keep Kinnard there. You could even try Rosenthal at guard then. But ideally, it would be best if Rosenthal shows he can play left tackle and Kinnard can stay at right tackle.”
How do coaches tell Kinnard he’s now moving back to the spot they asked him to move away from to help the team?
“You sell Kinnard that he has already shown his versatility. You had to tell him he was moving from his comfortable position but you knew he could make it. Now you tell him he gets to go back home and get back to wreaking havoc on the right side,” White said.”
“Probably when they originally moved him they told him they did not want to do this to him because he made a living there but the move would show his versatility and flexibility. Now they would just be moving him back home.”
