Darian Kinnard and Dare Rosenthal back at original positions where they feel most comfortable

Darian Kinnard, right, battled teammate Jeremy Flax in practice Tuesday. (Larry Vaught Photo)

Often a Kentucky open football practice will not have anything that just jumps out at me.

Not Tuesday.

As soon as the offensive line went to its first drill, there was All-American Darian Kinnard at right tackle — the same spot he played last year when he was a dominant player.

However, Kinnard moved to left tackle in the spring to fill the spot vacated by Landon Young’s departure to the NFL, and until Tuesday everyone thought he was still there. Instead, he’s moved back to right tackle and LSU transfer Dare Rosenthal, who played left tackle at LSU but had been playing right tackle here, was back at left tackle.

Former UK all-SEC running back Anthony White had predicted several weeks ago if Kinnard did not look totally comfortable at left tackle that this move could be made. He was right.

“I think it’s just putting guys in a position to be the most successful they can be. Obviously, he’s more successful and comfortable being on the right side,” new Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen said

“We want to be able to run the ball that way a lot. That’s our guy that we need to run behind. I think that gives us the ability to do so. He’s more comfortable there and he’s a team player. He’s the type of kid that just wants to do anything to win and that’s what he did.”

Kinnard had made the move to help the team and potentially enhance his NFL draft status. However, both Kinnard and Rosenthal are being projected as potential first-round draft picks and both have shown they are willing to sacrifice for the team. It’s just that Coen thinks the best team has Kinnard back at right tackle and Rosenthal at left tackle where he made eight starts for LSU.

“He (Rosenthal) has experience playing in our league at LSU,” offensive line coach Eric Wolford said after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s got an athletic skill set. In summer training, we had him over 20 miles per hour, so he’s a guy who can run.

“He’s got length obviously and he’s gotten a lot of reps there. When you have a guy with a lot of reps banked at one position, you go and try to play the other side and it’s different. We’re getting ready for a big year here and it’s probably the best thing to do for the team.”

It seems that way and likely could turn out that way for both players, too, because they are back where they are used to playing and have shown they can play.

“Darian has already established that he’s one of the best tackles in the game,” Wolford said. “Right tackle is natural for him. It’s like riding a bike. You don’t have to think about it, just out there and ride. Then you can focus on the things that you need to work on as far as schematic things that we need to do.”