Offensive lineman Luke Fortner, right, and tight end Justin Rigg both came back to UK for an extra COVID year. Fortner is moving from guard to center. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Kentucky’s Big Blue Wall is a consensus perceived strength going into the season and one reason running back Chris Rodriguez is expected to be such a dominant player this season. Kentucky returns three starters to go along with a highly-touted transfer — Drew Rosenthal — from LSU. However, only one of UK’s three returning linemen will be playing the same position this season.
All-American Darian Kinnard will move from right tackle to left tackle. Luke Fortner moves from guard to center. Kenneth Horsey will stay put at left guard. Rosenthal has started at left tackle for LSU but now moves to left tackle where Stoops made it clear he has to compete with Jeremy Flax, the starter coming out of spring practice. The other guard spot could be won by Austin Dotson, or Flax might move to guard if Rosenthal beats him out.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops is not worried about the position shifts in the Big Blue Wall.
“I think the experience helps. We did that quite a bit even if it was in practice. We moved guys around a lot. (Former assistant coach) John (Schlarman) always did a great job with that. As you know, when we had the players that we felt like could play winning football, we played them in games,” Stoops said.
The Kentucky coach loves the depth in the offensive line going into preseason practice that started Friday.
“There’s one year in particular where we rotated nine guys quite a bit. I feel like this year we’ll definitely be in a position where we feel like we could almost go 10 deep. I like that because it builds your program for the future, and I do feel like we’re in a position where we could rotate quite a few guys and be interchangeable,” Stoops said.
“Certainly there’s going to be a lot of work to do between right now and getting ready for that first game.”
Stoops said the coaching staff was “very pleased” with how Flax had played and there is a definite competition for the starting spot with Rosenthal.
“He (Flax) gives us a big, strong, physical presence that we always like. Dare will come in and compete like the rest of our guys. If he can play at that level and it feels like he is one of our top five, then you can move guys,” Stoops said.
‘But I’m not sure what that’ll be or who it’ll be or what position. We always have an obligation. It’s no different than any position, it’s just like in the secondary if your five best guys — you want to get your five best guys on the field, and offensive line is no different, you want to get your five best. But we do feel like there’s some depth.”
