What Is The Big Blue Wall?

The Big Blue Wall was born on October 1, 2016. The location was Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Kentucky offensive line was later recognized for their play on that night by the Crimson Tide’s All-American defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. Allen was asked which offensive line was the toughest he went against in 2016. His answer defines John Schlarman’s creation:

“I got to give it to the whole Kentucky front,” Allen said. “When I say that was probably the most physical game that I’ve played in this year, I have to give it them. They came with it that game. It kind of caught us by surprise. That was a real physical game.”

The SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic is college football’s premier voice for offensive line play. Simply stated, I trust Cole’s opinion more than any other talking head. Cubelic deserves credit for being the first analyst to discover the Big Blue Wall. The date was October 29, 2016. Location was Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. The time was 2:18 p.m. At that moment in history, Cole said the unthinkable. The former Auburn center turned media personality announced that Kentucky’s offensive line was arguably the most physical and best in the Southeastern Conference. The groundwork was laid. UK’s personality was confirmed on national television. Little did we know that the persona later known as the Big Blue Wall was just getting started, bro. What brought on Cubelic’s sideline comments? Running back Benny Snell rushed for 192 yards and two scores vs. the Tigers. Fellow running mate Boom Williams ran for 182 yards and 1 touchdown on that sunny day in Columbia. Combined, the Snell-Williams duo had 57 carries for 377 yards and three touchdowns during a 35-21 road win. Snell pounded Mizzou with a physical barrage of down-hill running. Boom blazed Mizzou with his speed and elusiveness. Leading the way were blockers that would later be known as founding members of the Big Blue Wall: Left Tackle Cole Mosier/Landon Young; Left Guard Nick Haynes/Logan Stenberg; Center Jon Toth; Right Guard Bunchy Stallings/Ramsey Meyers; and Right Tackle Kyle Meadows/George Asafo-Adjei. We can’t begin to discuss the Big Blue Wall without paying respect to its creator. Coach John Schlarman will forever be known as Mr. Kentucky Football. He was the architect of its offensive line that was beloved, respected and accomplished. Schlarman’s crew was and remains elite. The Wildcat offensive line coach evaluated and selected every big fella that Mark Stoops brought to campus. His eye for talent and systematic and personality fit were as brilliant as his player development.

Schlarman's Big Blue Wall has helped Kentucky post five consecutive seasons of 2,000 or more rushing yards and advance to five consecutive bowl games. UK finished 2020 with 2,125 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry in an abbreviated season. 2020 also saw several Wildcat offensive linemen earn conference and national honors. Center Drake Jackson and tackles Landon Young and Darian Kinnard were honored with All-American and All-SEC recognition. Schlarman’s offensive line blocked for Lynn Bowden Jr. to become the third straight Wildcat to total 1,000 rushing yards in 2019. The Big Blue Wall also led the way for UK to set single-season records in rushing yards (3,624), rushing TDs (36) and yards per rushing attempt (6.32). Schlarman's Wildcats were again semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's top offensive line. Logan Stenberg was named All-American and First-Team All-SEC. He was later selected by the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft. Center Drake Jackson was listed First Team All-SEC. The Big Blue Wall paved the way for the Wildcats to win 10 games in 2018. It also facilitated All-American Benny Snell Jr. to become Kentucky’s all-time leading rusher. They also were influential in helping the Wildcats rush for more than 2,000 yards and pass for more than 2,000 yards in three straight seasons, the first time UK has accomplished that in school history. UK defeated No. 12 Penn State in the 2019 VRBO Citrus Bowl. Senior offensive guard Bunchy Stallings earned first-team All-American and All-SEC honors. Tackle George Asafo-Adjei was drafted by the New York Giants. In 2017, Schlarman's line blocked for Snell Jr. to rush for 1,333 yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns. Schlarman rotated nine lineman on a regular basis and his unit was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award after his line led the Wildcats to a record-breaking rushing attack in 2016. As a team, UK averaged a school-record 5.4 yards per rushing attempt and averaged 234.2 rushing yards per game. The Wildcats also advanced to their first bowl game in six seasons. The Wildcat offensive line blocked for two players that rushed for more than 1,000 yards (Boom Williams and Snell Jr.). Williams averaged 6.8 yards per carry, just shy of his own school record of 7.1 yards per carry in 2015, while Snell broke UK freshman records for most rushing yards, most total touchdowns, most rushing touchdowns and most 100-yard games. Center Jon Toth was named First-Team All-SEC and Stenberg was a Freshman All-SEC choice. The Big Blue Wall has also produced members recognized for their off the field services. Guard Luke Fortner was named to the 2020 SEC Southeastern Conference Community Service Team. Fortner is also one of eleven finalists for the Danny Wuerffel Trophy which honors the nation’s top community servant in college football. Tackle Landon Young earned a spot on the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Coach Schlarman loved the moments when his offensive line leaned on opponents to close out football games. I’m sure John was smiling just as much when his players were honored for being selfless servants in the community. What is the Big Blue Wall? The answer is both easy and complicated. The Big Blue Wall is a state of mind. Respect all opponents. Fear none. The Big Blue Wall is a personality; a way of life. On the field it’s a physical, nasty collection of maulers that technically kick the crap out of opposing front sevens. It’s honored by an offensive lineman wearing their coach’s No. 65. Off the field it’s an assemblage of academically achieving, caring and socially conscience young men that were bettered for spending precious time with John Schlarman. If John taught us anything, it’s that time is precious. What is the Big Blue Wall? It’s developing Belfry guard Austin Dotson into a well-rounded starter in the Southeastern Conference after sitting behind accomplished teammates such as Logan Stenberg, Bunchy Stallings, and Luke Fortner. The Big Blue Wall is also All-SEC Center Drake Jackson who finished his collegiate career with a master’s degree after starting 43 consecutive games. It’s All-SEC tackle Landon Young playing opposite of All-American Darian Kinnard. The Big Blue Wall is Luke Fortner, who is working towards a master’s degree in engineering while playing multiple offensive line positions. The Big Blue Wall is redshirt sophomore center Quintin Wilson who recently earned his degree and is poised to take over for Drake Jackson. It’s also All-American Bunchy Stallings wearing the No. 65 in honor of Coach John Schlarman. The Big Blue Wall is a way of life at the Joe Craft Football Training Center that could produce up to four 2021 NFL Draft picks. The Gator Bowl could be the last time that Drake Jackson, Landon Young, Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard will wear the blue and white. Those four will be sorely missed on the field, in the locker room, and in the community. Kentucky is a football program that is known for its offensive line. Opposing coaches and media members rave about its efficiency and prowess. Kentucky Football is the Big Blue Wall. The Big Blue Wall is Kentucky Football. 2020 has been brutal in many different ways. Losing John Schlarman was incredibly difficult for his players. But the coach must have been smiling down from heaven when his men eloquently spoke about their coach during a tribute on Kroger Field. Their words were broken. Public speaking is difficult for youngsters. Publicly speaking about such a wonderful man mere days after his passing must have been incredibly difficult. But, the Big Blue Wall yet again bowed its collective necks and were solid for the Big Blue Nation and their teammates. In essence, they consoled all of us on that cloudy day. I’m sure they miss their coach. I miss John. So what or who’s next? We’ll figure all that out during spring practice and fall camp. But today I’d rather think about the present and past as I go back to Jonathan Allen’s words: “I got to give it to the whole Kentucky front,” Allen said. “When I say that was probably the most physical game that I’ve played in this year, I have to give it them. They came with it that game. It kind of caught us by surprise. That was a real physical game.” Thank you, John Schlarman. Job well done. Rest in sweet peace brother.