LSU transfer Dare Rosenthal (LSU Athletics Photo)
Credit LSU coach Ed Orgeron for not downplaying the significance of losing offensive tackle Dare Rosenthal to Kentucky via the transfer portal.
“He’s a tremendous player. I hate to lose him. I recruited him out of Ferriday High School. Defensive lineman went to offensive line. He didn’t want to leave. It was hard on him,” Orgeron said at the SEC Media Days.
“I think they’ve got a potential first-round draft choice there. Dare knows he’s got some stuff he needs to get better at, and I’m sure Kentucky’s going to see that. He’s a great young man, a great team player.
“He’s going to be wearing another helmet. He’s going to be trying his best. I’m going to expect his best against us, and he’s going to get our best. He expects that, and that’s just the way it is.”
Rosenthal’s former LSU teammate, Austin Deculus, told media members in Hoover, Ala., that Rosenthal is a “dog” who will do well at UK.
“Big athletic freak, big — he’s about 6-7, dunk the ball, he can hoop, overall athlete, plays to the end of the whistle. They’re getting a very dependable and very great player,” Deculus said.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Rosenthal had experience playing at one of the “premier places” in the SEC and comes to UK “very motivated” to do well.
Part of that experience for Rosenthal included three starts at left tackle during LSU’s national championship season in 2019. Kentucky All-American right tackle Darian Kinnard moved to left tackle in spring practice but is not worried about the competition with Rosenthal now on the roster.
Kinnard said any player planning to play in the NFL has to expect competition yearly.
“At the end of the day, it’s good competition. He’s a teammate. It’s healthy competition,” Kinnard said.
