Jeremy Flax, left, is being counted on to fill a hole at offensive tackle this season. (UK Athletics Photo)
Jeremy Flax is a four-star prospect from Detroit who played in 11 of 13 games last season but the 6-6, 235-pound junior college transfer has not made a start for Kentucky.
Deondre Buford is another four-star prospect out of Detroit but he the 6-3, 312-pound sophomore has played in just two games in his two years at Kentucky.
Yet if the Kentucky season started today, they would be the starting tackles and likely will be when the season opens in just over four weeks.
“Tackles are one of the most scrutinized positions in football,” offensive line coach Zach Yenser said. “Those guys do not have as many reps as the three guys inside (center Eli Cox and guards Kenneth Horsey and Tashawn Manning).”
Kentucky graduated two high-profile tackles in Darian Kinnard and Dare Rosenthal. Flax and Buford along with likely backups David Wohlabaugh, a redshirt freshman, and Kiyaunta Goodwin, a true freshman, have got to “pick up the slack,” according to Yenser.
“They all know that and have since the draft,” Yenser said. “They have worked their butts off to get there. My job is to get all those guys ready. People don’t care who you lost. They want results. We have got to find ways to help on the edge and run the ball and keep guys honest on our tackles.”
Yenser said Buford and Flax are both athletic, rangy athletes who run well. Both have been working on their strength.
“Flax had to lose weight and did a good job. We wanted to get Deondre’s weight up and keep him moving well,” Yenser said. “I think they both check all the boxes to play tackle in this league. Both are smart. They played behind two veteran guys and got a lot of great experience just watching them. I think they will both be fine.”
