Kentucky Football Spring Cleaning: Offensive Line
Kentucky football spring practice begins Monday. It feels like just yesterday we were sweating out a decision from Liam Coen. Time flies when your Cats are in good hands.
Before spring practice begins, let’s hit the reset button with a refresher on each position group. Even though we will not get to see the Cats in action with a Blue-White Game, we’ll get a chance on April 1 to get a closer look at Mark Stoops’ upcoming Kentucky football team. Here’s what you can expect from the Big Blue Wall.
Previous Positions: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Offensive Line Newcomers
Marques Cox: The 6-foot-5, 300-pound left tackle from Northern Illinois only allowed three sacks in his three-year career, more than 1,050 pass snaps. He suffered a season-ending foot injury against Kentucky at Kroger Field, but should be available for spring practice.
Tanner Bowles: A top 300 recruit out of Glasgow, Bowles initially committed to play for Nick Saban at Alabama. Now a redshirt senior, the versatile offensive lineman will compete for reps at right guard and right tackle.
Koby Keenum: The 6-foot-4, 300-pound interior offensive lineman from Alabama was the Wildcats’ highest-ranked offensive line signee in the 2023 recruiting class. Considered one of the top center prospects in the country, he projects as a multi-year starter, but will just be getting his feet wet this spring.
Malachi Wood: The three-star offensive tackle from Richmond made the short move up I-75 this offseason. Strength training is priority No. 1 for the lengthy left tackle.
Top Storyline: Rebuilding the Right Side
In his introductory press conference Liam Coen said fixing the offensive line is his “number one priority” this offseason. Part of the problem was already solved by the time he landed in Lexington. Left tackle Marques Cox transferred from Northern Illinois, allowing Kenneth Horsey to move back to his preferred position at left guard.
We know what the left side of the offensive line will look like, but what about the right? Jager Burton showed plenty of promise as a redshirt freshman. Even though Eli Cox started the entire 2022 season at center, Burton has the traits to play the position, or simply compete with Bowles at right guard. There’s also a matter of what to do at right tackle…
Wild Cards: Nik Hall and Tanner Bowles
Jeremy Flax was Kentucky’s primary right tackle in 2022. That position is up for grabs this spring and a couple of players could rise up the ranks and provide some much-needed competition at the spot. Bowles has some experience, albeit limited, at right tackle and Nik Hall was an All-American and a Top 200 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. Initially projected to play guard, the son of former Wildcat Antonio Hall has the measureables to slide out to tackle. If Hall and Bowles provide enough pop, Kentucky may not need to seek out more offensive line help in the second transfer portal window.
Prediction: Marques Cox will Pop
I can pre-write a story about Marques Cox wowing in one-on-ones and leave a blank space for the quotes from UK’s pass-rushers. I can feel it in my bones. The Northern Illinois left tackle is enormous. There will not be a significant learning curve for the excellent pass protector.
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