Big Blue Wall Checklist: 3 things Zach Yenser must accomplish

On Tuesday, Kentucky made the latest football hire official. San Francisco 49ers assistant Zach Yenser is moving from the NFC West to the SEC. That same move was made by offensive coordinator Liam Coen after last season. Expectations are high for the 38-year-old offensive line coach.

However, there are a lot of unknowns for Kentucky’s Big Blue Wall heading into the 2022 season. The Wildcats must replace a pair of likely draft picks at tackle and for the second year in a row must find a replacement for one of the best centers in college football. Only two starters return, and the position room is filled with a ton of young players.

Yenser will have his hands full as this offseason progresses. First up is spring practice, and Kentucky’s new offensive line coach needs to start finding some answers to these current problems plaguing the Wildcats.

Find a permanent position for Kenneth Horsey

Former low three-star recruit Kenneth Horsey is entering his fifth season in the Kentucky football program. The Central Florida native has started 21 games over the last two seasons and has consistently been one of the best pass blockers on the team. However, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound guard also served as Kentucky’s swing tackle last season.

When both Darian Kinnard and Dare Rosenthal left games with injuries in 2021, Horsey stepped in to play both left and right tackle. Horsey got the start at left tackle in the Citrus Bowl but did not have the greatest performance as Kentucky simply could not protect Will Levis. Where the redshirt senior plugs in for Kentucky in 2022 is the most important thing that Zach Yenser must figure out.

There is quality depth on the interior with the addition of Auburn transfer Tashawn Manning joining the group along with veterans Eli Cox and Quintin Wilson. However, Horsey could be one of the best guards in the SEC and can give the Wildcats one of the premier interior offensive line units in the country.

The permanent answer must be found in spring practice.

Develop young pieces at offensive tackle

The tackle position is a big worry for the offense, but Kentucky has recruited this spot well in recent hauls. Kiyaunta Goodwin was a top-100 recruit in the class of 2022. Deondre Buford was a four-star recruiting win in the class of 2020. Jeremy Flax was a four-star recruit out of junior college. David Wohlabaugh Jr. was a three-star out of Stow (Ohio) Walsh Jesuit but has a major pedigree with a dad who played nine years in the NFL and a brother who was a starting center at Duke.

Zach Yenser must get these guys on a track to be potential contributors at Kentucky.

There are unproven pieces, but there appears to be quality depth on the roster at offensive tackle. If Yenser can speed up the development process, Kentucky could be in a much better position at offensive tackle than originally expected.

Correctly target transfer portal options

Even if everything goes 100 percent to plan, Kentucky still needs to address depth with a transfer portal addition at offensive tackle. Vanderbilt’s Tyler Steen appears to be an option, but the South Florida native is now getting attention from Alabama and LSU. Meanwhile, the waiting game will likely need to be played for future options that could emerge once spring semesters wrap up around the country.

After spending time in the NFL and having limited Power Five experience, it’s fair to wonder just how effective Zach Yenser will be as a recruiter. Quickly, we’ll get a taste as the Wildcats must wisely target and add a player who can help the team quickly.