Realistic Expectations for Kentucky's Big Blue Wall in 2023

“Expectation” is a complex term. It can relate to recent performance or a historic standard or trend. There are mixed expectations when projecting the 2023 Kentucky offensive line which has traditionally been referred to as the Big Blue Wall. 

The late, great John Schlarman established the Big Blue Wall. John was instrumental in identifying and recruiting specific high school prospects that fit in his vision of the “UK Way.” He then developed the collective into one of, if not the, best offensive lines in college football. KSR’s friend over at the SEC Network Cole Cubelic was the first talking head to recognize the Cats’ OL prowess. He declared that the Kentucky offensive line was the conference’s best during a broadcast of Kentucky’s win over Missouri in Columbia. I remember where I was when I heard Cole’s words. The secret was out. Kentucky was a bully in the trenches. I was so proud. The Cats had finally taken on their head coach’s personality on the offensive side of the football. 

Foundational players helped to construct Kentucky’s Big Blue Wall: Drake Jackson, Logan Stenberg, Bunchy Stallings, George Asafo-Adjei, Landon Young, and so forth. Several picked up the cause and advanced it into continued excellence such as Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard. Last year’s version struggled. That’s no secret and it was hard to watch. The Big Blue Nation grew frustrated. An SEC talking head even went as far as calling the Wildcats’ OL “soft.” Gut punch. That’s fighting words in a locker room and not a sentence that I thought I’d ever type. But, there’s hope. When there is hope, there is expectation. 

So, for the purposes of this post, we’ll focus on the realistic expectations for the Wildcats’ offensive line to return to a point in which it’s not a liability. That’s the starting point. We can talk Big Blue Wall later. 

Foundation

The 2023 offense line has foundational pieces. The mainstay and rock of the group is super-senior Kenneth Horsey. He’s the undeniable leader in the room and a man whom I deeply respect. Horsey is a player of few words and has overcome unthinkable health issues to become a team leader and an All-SEC candidate at guard. He was forced to play left tackle a year ago which must have been aggravating. He did it anyway and displayed a team-first trait that is commendable. Horsey is back at his natural interior position and is the group’s anchor. His familiarity in itself leads to an improved collective. 

Eli Cox was a midyear All-American guard in 2021 before an injury cut his season short. Cox played center last season and is likely moving back to guard in 2023. Cox is a mauler, a physical player who is more of a natural guard than center. He, along with Horsey, both signed and played for John Schlarman. Eli Cox was a recruiting afterthought that has worked his way into the starting lineup. For that, and many other things, I commend the in-state lineman for being brutally honest about the current status of the OL and team in his remarks to the media. Cox and Horsey are the pillars upon which the Wildcats can build when referencing past performance and historical perspective about the Big Blue Wall. 

Jager Burton is described by former Wildcat offensive linemen as “a pro.” Burton started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2022 and was an All-SEC Freshman performer. The 6’5, 309-pound sophomore has been moved to center. Kentucky is not confirming if the move is permanent, but it makes sense and my guess is that he plays center this fall. Burton is a freak athlete that can stretch to reach zone blocks and will eventually be called upon to pull around the edge. That move is extremely rare by centers by the way. It will take some time for him to become fully comfortable playing the position. It’s a unique role. Luke Fortner did the same and that worked out great for the Jacksonville Jaguar. But, Luke was a multi-year starter and contributor before kicking inside. I eventually expect the same type of results from Burton. 

Newcomers

Kentucky dipped into the Portal to sign Northern Illinois left tackle Marques Cox. This was a position of dire need. The 6’5, 311-pound senior is a seasoned veteran who is steady, proven, long, and athletic. He is UK’s starting left tackle that will be assigned to protect fellow transfer Devin Leary’s blindside. Cox is solid and an immediate starter. Tanner Bowles is another Portal addition that came over from Alabama. The 6’5, 306-pound Bowles brings positional versatility to the equation. He’s even lining up at tight end during spring practice and is another choice acquisition.

Work in Progress

Right tackle was and remains to be a spot that is being decided by competition and is a work in progress. 6’6, 325-pound Jeremy Flax battles consistency matters. Flax played in and started twelve games a year ago and showed flashes of an effective, SEC starting tackle. Deondre Buford played in all thirteen games last season including two starts. It was obvious that the tackle position in general limited the Cats last season and is a spot that must be improved going forward. 

Kentucky may explore the Portal for additional tackles. Jeremy Flax has shown signs that he’s the solution, but again, needs to be more consistent. Buford was a highly-ranked prospect coming out of high school and is said to possess excellent feet. Much like Flax, consistent execution is necessary. The SEC is a defensive front league. Shoring up the tackle position is mandatory. 

What Does All This Mean? 

I wrote a long piece on how I feel that spring practice should be done away with across college football. That post was greeted with speculation and a bit of negativity which is perfectly fine. I merely tried to lobby for a year-round training model that can be seen in the NFL. Back to the Big Blue Wall and spring practice. Don’t be overly alarmed by the negativity surrounding the offensive line in March and April. 

I think that we are all too sensitive from witnessing our beloved Big Blue Wall be a team liability a year ago. That was uncomfortable, unnatural, and sad if I’m being honest. NFL Draft experts are ripping the UK offensive line from Will Levis’ final season in Lexington. Film depicting pass protection failures are soon to be blasted on television sets across America leading up to the Draft. So, it’s perfectly understandable to be a little skeptical and scared; I know I am to a certain extent. 

Observations from spring practice haven’t been exactly flattering. Competition and environment have to be factored in. First, the defense most always wins in the spring. Second, Deone Walker is a Dude. Keeshawn Silver is also turning heads. The 2023 defensive line is large, deep, experienced, twitchy, and powerful. Again, spring practice is almost always won by the defense, so don’t go into an all-out panic yet when bad reports come out of the Joe Craft Football Training Center. Football happens. Sometimes the defense wins. Many times the defense wins when Deone Walker is involved.

One concern that I do have is depth. One of the many things that made Schlarman’s offensive line so dynamic was his dedication to a nine or ten-man rotation. In simpler terms, his group was fresh for sixty minutes because snaps were shared between the ones and twos with very little, if any, drop-off. I was on those sidelines. There was a complete sense of comradery within the position group. There was also a high sense of competition and downright meanness that translated onto the field. Technique can be taught; attitude is a much more challenging aspect to be instructed. This is where the Big Blue Wall’s culture comes into the equation. 

A rotation hasn’t been the case in Lexington for two seasons now and it’s beginning to show. Quickly, name two or three second-team offensive linemen. I know, it’s not as easy as it once was. Thus, my case for Portal additions is strengthened not just for a right tackle, but also for depth or rotation linemen. There are youthful hopes in the group that’s on campus now, but it’s mostly unproven. I’m not sounding an alarm. I merely need to evaluate the OL depth more closely before projecting the future of the group. 

The foundation is in place. Can the Cats return to their roots as a physical, mauling offensive line that moves large humans out of the way? I’m not sure. I don’t think the makeup or mentality of the room is the same as when Stenberg, Jackson, and Stallings were destroying interior defensive lines. But, there’s talent in place to effectively block in Liam Coen’s system. Additionally, today’s game is much different than it was three years ago. The Portal brings in new players. Continuity is becoming more and more difficult to sustain. 

Offensive line coach Zach Yenser is in year two at Kentucky and his first under Coen. The group needs to show vast improvement in 2023. The UK offense will look different in the fall than it does now. Vince Marrow has two tight ends to work with in March and April, one of which is a true freshman. The TEs are vital contributors to UK’s run game success. Brenden Bates is in essence a third offensive tackle when on the field and Josh Kattus is a wrecking ball that plays the game as if it’s 1953. Jordan Dingle has proven to be an excellent blocker from the H-back spot or as an on-line TE. 

Mark Stoops loves for his offense to win fistfights in a phone booth. Physicality from his offensive linemen is mandatory. He won’t settle for anything less. He shouldn’t settle for anything less. When that’s missing, he’s not happy. But, the reality is that this is a restructured group that needs time. Patience is not a Stoops’ strength. 

I’m hearing that there are obvious improvements and the OL is in much better shape now than it was this time last year. Reality states that I’m not expecting a full return to the Big Blue Wall glory from yesteryear. But, an improvement from 2022 should and must take place. Just how much improvement is yet to be seen. It’s an ongoing project that has the eyes of the Big Blue Nation fully upon it during spring practice.