Senior center Luke Fortner played in 54 career games on the “Big Blue Wall." (Photo by UK Athletics)
Opening night of this year’s NFL Draft came and went without a Kentucky Wildcat taken in the first 32 picks. However, Friday night’s second and third rounds called for three former Wildcats being selected. Wan’Dale Robinson went 43rd overall to the New York Giants, Josh Paschal was picked just three selections later at 46th overall by the Detroit Lions and Luke Fortner was selected 65th overall at the top of the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. All three had a very successful final season with Kentucky and should fill immediate holes on their respective teams.
For Robinson, he enters an offense in New York that just hired former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as their new head coach. Following a record-setting year with the Wildcats, the 5-foot-10, 183-pounder is in line to immediately impact his team. The Giants do have talented receivers in Kenny Golladay and Sterling Shepard, but the two combined for just 73 catches and one touchdown last season. Robinson is an incredible route runner with skills running after the catch. With a re-built offensive line and quarterback Daniel Jones in a “prove it” year, Robinson may have very well landed in a perfect spot.
Paschal finds himself in a similar rebuild situation with Detroit, as they had the NFL’s second-worst record and scoring defense a season ago. The five-year Wildcat is coming off a standout season with Kentucky, totaling 52 tackles with 15 for a loss and five sacks. He held a key leadership role for head coach Mark Stoops and was heavily involved with the community during his time off the field. The Lions drafted a player that can immediately help their rebuild but also make a difference for the city of Detroit.
Coaches of the Southeastern Conference voted Fortner as the center on the All-SEC first team this past season. After making the switch from guard to center, Fortner found his comfort zone and thrived for a Kentucky offensive line that was one of the best in the SEC. According to Pro Football Focus, Jacksonville’s offensive line ranked 24th in the league with glaring room for improvement to keep now second year quarterback Trevor Lawrence upright. Fortner will have the opportunity to slide in and provide an immediate lift to protecting last year’s first overall pick.
One surprise from Friday’s round was consensus All-American left tackle Darian Kinnard not being selected in the second or third rounds. Like Fortner, he played a key role on a highly productive offensive line for the Wildcats and is an absolute mountain for the quarterback’s blindside. One team will definitely find an absolute gem during Saturday’s final four rounds. In addition to Kinnard falling out of the first three rounds, other Wildcats who could possibly hear their name called today are Dare Rosenthal, Marquan McCall and Yusuf Corker.
