Coach Zach Yenser is having to totally rebuild UK's offensive line. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky has added three offensive linemen from the transfer portal for next season and now it has lost its second offensive linemen to the transfer portal.
First it was David Wohlabaugh, who started the season opener at left tackle last year but then played only sparingly the rest of the season, who announced he was leaving UK.
Now tackle Deondre Buford has done the same according to new that college football writer Josh Edwards broke Monday.
He played in 13 games last season with 236 total snaps. He has started two games.
Buford was a big signee for the Cats when they got him out of Detroit. He was rated among the nation’s top 35 offensive tackles in his recruiting class but was never able to establish himself as a front-line player at UK.
Buford and Wohlabaugh did not figure to be starters next season after the Cats brought in Marques Cox from Northern Illinois to play left tackle and just recently added Courtland Ford of USC to take over at right tackle. However, the two were counted on to provide depth for the Big Blue Wall.
Kentucky likely will go into the 2023 season without a returning starter at any position in the offensive line even though three of the players did start last season. Guard Jager Burton is moving to center, left tackle Kenneth Horsey is moving to left guard and center Eli Cox is moving to right guard.
Kentucky also added offensive lineman Tanner Bowles of Alabama in the transfer portal and returns 2022 starting right tackle Jeremy Flax.
8 Responses
The Big Blue Wall is the nucleus of the offense. Without these linemen none of the so-called skilled players will be able to accomplish much of anything. The Wall must come together if Kentucky football is to succeed.
I think it is getting better
I think you will and already see a wall that’s coming together nicely.. The Wildcats have been able thru the portal to solidify a offensive line that alot of people thought last year was close to figuring it out,and all we have done is move a few pieces around and look what a line we have going into the fall..Of course time will tell but I’m excited about this new offensive line and I think all of them playing with a chip on their shoulder’s to prove to everyone that they are and will be better next year is exciting to wait for fall…Go Cats
Horsey and Cox are returning to their primary positions so I think that’s a plus and the move to center may help Burton. With the addition of two tackles, the line should be better overall.
Judging from last years online, it is probably a good move for both players and the team
Larry…what is your take on recruiting for Stoops and Marrow who preach "Recruit and Develop" when that’s obviously not what is happening. It’s more "Recruit and Replace". How do we attract in-state talent – or any top recruits – when it doesn’t appear that we can coach and build them to compete. 5 of the top 10 ’24 recruits in KY are OL. Selm and Johnson have committed, but you have Madison and Kennedy in our backyard at Douglass. Why would they come to UK when we have such turnover in our OL room? It’s hard to build a cohesive unit when its a revolving door of supposed talent "upgrades" rather than being committed and coaching the kids you recruited. The Big Blue Wall was a product of Schlarman and has crumbled since we lost him.
Eric that is just the way of life now. It’s happening everywhere. Same with attracting a quarterback. But the pressure to win EVERY YEAR makes coaches have to react in different ways now. I still think they do a great job recruiting now I consider the transfer portal just another part of recruiting
Sad state for college football. They shouldn’t even commit anymore, that means nothing. Fans should expect zero loyalty from either players or coaches and not complain when the ones that they don’t want to leave, do what’s best for them. My concern is what that does to the climate in your locker room and how you build a culture consistent with winning. I can’t imagine trust being too high. How do you look a kid in the eye that you’re recruiting – or their parents – and "commit" to them or ask for their commitment, when it is based on "unless someone better pops up in the portal after we’ve "developed" you for three years"? OL is one of the toughest positions to recruit and you have to have a development plan to build skills, improve talent and establish depth. Or rather you should. Seems we’ve rather opted to hope on the portal to deliver our salvation than to actually coach. Continued mediocrity, here we come!