Coaching change is helping Jeremy Flax grow

Kentucky has two starters to replace at offensive tackle in 2022. Jeremy Flax feels like an obvious candidate to step in at right tackle. However, the Detroit native is looking to return to form.

After playing for John Schlarman after moving to Kentucky from junior college, the former four-star recruit appeared to struggle under offensive line coach Eric Wolford in 2021. After leaving the spring as a starter, Flax was replaced by LSU transfer Dare Rosenthal and played less than 100 snaps on offense. After being applauded by Liam Coen last spring, Flax seemed to have lost his mojo.

The redshirt junior is now starting to gain it back under new offensive line coach Zach Yenser.

“It was mostly a difference between just keeping my mental in check — keeping the off the field things off the field and staying focused on just football. And also, the change in coaches really helped,” Flax told reporters on Tuesday. “Coach [Zach] Yenser just got a different style of coaching that more so caters to how stuff hits my head. He really just helped me a lot.

“He’s an NFL guy so he’s used to working with older adults, and he’s not going to sit up here and yell at you or scream at you when you do something wrong. He’s going to tell you to get it back the next play. It gives you confidence to where you know you can do the right thing, and if you do mess up he’s not just going to shun you for it.”

Confidence is something that Jeremy Flax needs after last year. The 6-foot-6 offensive tackle seemed to have lost that under Wolford and was unable to develop into a consistent, quality tackle Kentucky could use last season. That forced both Rosenthal and Darian Kinnard to play a lot of snaps. With their departure, Kentucky is now in a rough space as it needs to find two new starters.

Flax is the favorite to fill one of those roles, and a lot of it can be due to his growth as he enters year three in the program.

“I feel like I’ve progressed a lot — physically and mentally. A lot of the game started to slow down for me this year, and I’ve been getting in the gym consistently losing weight over the time that I’ve been here,” said Flax. “This year feels like a good spot for me. I feel like I’m ready.”

Flax looks in better shape as he reports to have slimmed down to 330 pounds and wants to get to 315 before the season starts. The veteran picked Kentucky over Auburn and is starting to flash some more consistency this spring showing why he was a sought-after prospect. In Tuesday’s open practice, the right tackle looked the part.

Under Yenser, Kentucky’s duties on the offensive line have remained the same, but the coaching points have just been tweaked. That change has been good for Jeremy Flax as the right tackle is meshing well with the new coach as he hopes to become an integral piece of the Big Blue Wall in 2022.