Kentucky's tackle battle should start to take shape as spring resumes

New offensive line coach Zach Yenser had one week of practice with his new offensive line before the Kentucky football program paused for spring break. Some strides should be made as the Wildcats take the field for multiple practices over the next couple of weeks.

With the return of Will Levis and Chris Rodriguez Jr. combined with solid skill talent recruiting at wide receiver to go with two of the better guards in the SEC, there are plenty of building blocks for new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. However, the big question is what Kentucky will do at offensive tackle.

Over the next three weeks, work done on the field will go a long way to determining who will play on the edge for the Big Blue Wall in 2022.

Huge moment for both Deondre Buford and Jeremy Flax

Deondre Buford was a significant recruiting win for Kentucky. In the class of 2020, the Detroit Martin Luther King product was a four-star prospect who picked the Wildcats over Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Purdue. With a good athleticism profile, Buford appeared to be a potential long-term answer for the offense at left tackle.

After two seasons in the program, Buford is up near 300 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame but has length that should allow him to play bigger. The redshirt sophomore played in two games last season and is firmly in the mix for left tackle. We should learn soon if the third-year player is ready to contribute this season.

Elsewhere in the 2022 class, Kentucky signed another four-star offensive tackle. Jeremy Flax was another Detroit product who made a pitstop in junior college for a year. Flax came to Kentucky and redshirted during the COVID-19 season. After leaving the 2021 spring as a starter at right tackle, Flax was replaced when the Wildcats added LSU transfer Dare Rosenthal to the roster.

That demotion appeared to make an impact as Flax could never truly carve out a role as a rotational player and had some major issues when asked to play left tackle. However, Flax will get a chance to secure the right tackle spot as a redshirt junior in 2022. At 6-foot-6 and 356 pounds, Flax has the size and power to go with the tools to turn into a productive right tackle.

Kentucky has some options at tackle in spring. However, it is a big couple of weeks upcoming for both Buford and Flax. If they are to secure a start it will have to happen now.

Tyler Steen could provide help

Beginning on Monday, Vanderbilt transfer Tyler Steen will be on campus going through with an official visit. A two-year SEC starter, Steen has experience at both tackle spots with prototypical size at tackle (6-5, 315). However, the recruitment is heated. Alabama, LSU, NC State, and Virginia are all involved as each Power Five program needs some transfer help.

Steen could fill a role with Kentucky and might not be the only transfer player linked to Kentucky’s offensive line throughout the offseason. Scangarello’s offense needs to add some more quality depth at tackle, and an addition or two should be expected at this point.

Surprise candidates

Maybe the most exciting part of the next couple of weeks will be that the coaching staff gets to see star recruit Kiyaunta Goodwin in full pads to see what the blue-chipper has. The former five-star recruit has a ton of potential, but there are a lot of unknowns.

Elsewhere, David Wohlabaugh Jr. is back after a redshirt season but has been on campus for a full season after being an early enrollee. The Ohio native has a big-time pedigree and has the potential to be a left tackle in the future. If the light comes on, Wohlabaugh could be a surprise contributor this season.

An unexpected rotational player could go a long way as Kentucky looks to find the next answers at offensive tackle.