Tennessee transfer Gerald Mincey is looking forward to UK's Nov. 2 game at Knoxville. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Gerald Mincey was a significant transfer portal addition for Kentucky when he came from Tennessee because he immediately bolstered UK’s offensive line depth even if he does not end up being the starter at right tackle.
The 6-3, 337-pound Mincey picked UK over Ole Miss after he spent two years at Florida and then the last two at Tennessee. He had actually verbally committed to UK in high school before flipping to home-state Florida.
Tennessee fans gave Mincey a hard time on social media when he picked UK and he admitted during his first media interview at UK that he was a “troll” by responding to those fans. He had no regrets about openly doing that.
“If I’m gonna say something, I’m gonna use my main account. And obviously that’s what I’ve been doing. That’s a little fire to the fuel, man. Just getting to work and knowing I have a target on my back makes me work harder. I have to talk the talk and walk the walk,” he said.
He posted on social media that the “negative comments hurts” because he played the 2023 season with a torn MCL but still helped Tennessee win a bowl game. He started seven games in 2023 and played in all 13 games. He was on the field for almost 600 snaps despite his knee injury and in two seasons started 14 games at Tennessee.
Mincey said he picked Kentucky in part because of his contact with then UK offensive line coach John Schlarman back in 2018 before his passing and former UK offensive coordinator Eddie Gran also had a “bond” with him.
“He (Gran) was the first one to reach out when I got in the portal. Coach Gran was the first to offer from an SEC school. Now I have a chance to be a part of the Big Blue Wall and I’m excited,” Mincey said. “I think it was time for a change. I appreciate what Tennessee allowed me to do and the two years that I did it.”
However, Kentucky fans have to love his feisty attitude.
“I think I owe it to all the Kentucky fans to handle business on Nov. 2 (when UK plays at Tennessee),” he said. “So I’m excited for that.”
Mark Stoops is 2-9 against Tennessee and has lost 36 of the last 39 games against Tennessee. Mincey admits UK has to do more to make it a true rivalry.
“I love the underdog (role). So when we go there Nov. 2 to Neyland (Stadium) and we bust them in the mouth, we can put the standard back over here,” Mincey said. “I love being the underdog. I don’t look at it as a rival. I just look at it as another game to go out and get my job done.”
One Response
We will have our best offensive line that we have ever had this year. We have alot of experience and talent. I think Brock will get alot more time than other qbs have had in recent years. Our receiver room is the deepest it has ever been as well and we have a pretty good backup quarterback for the first time in a long time in case a injury occurs. The running back room has alot of young athletic running backs and we have experience in Lavelle Wright and The transfer from Ohio State. We also have 2 experienced tight ends and a couple of highly sought after recruits. All of this with a Top 10 defense goes a long way. I get more excited about football than basketball. Calapari has ruined my kentucky experience in basketball.