2024 Kentucky Position Previews: Offensive Line

Kentucky’s fall camp is right around the corner. Before the Cats officially begin the 2024 season, KSR is taking a closer look at the roster and analyzing each position group. Personnel, storylines, questions, and one bold prediction will be included.

Now we wrap up the offense by taking a look at what Kentucky has in the trenches. The floor should be very high for this group in 2024.

Position Preview: Quarterback | Flipped QB room has unknown ceiling but should provide safe floor for offense (KSR+ column)

Postion Preview: Running Back | Kentucky has earned benefit of the doubt at tailback but there is much to prove (KSR+ column)

Position Preview: Wide Receiver | Wide receiver play will determine Kentucky’s offensive ceiling (KSR+ column)

Position Preview: Tight End

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Expected Starters

Marques Cox (6-5, 318, Super)

The former Northern Illinois transfer is back for year two at Kentucky and is now in his seventh season of college football. Cox has 46 career starts, 3,009 career snaps, and was quietly one of the best players on this offense last season. The veteran has a great shot at becoming a Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and will fill a priority position for Kentucky this fall.

Jager Burton (6-4, 316, RJr.)

The former top-150 recruit has made 25 consecutive starts entering year four but has not lived up to his recruiting ranking yet. Burton is back at guard full-time after playing center at the beginning of last year and needs to add more play strength. The Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass product will need to hold off some competition during fall camp.

Eli Cox (6-4, 309, Super)

The Nicholasville (Ky.) West Jessamine product is now in year six at Kentucky and is entering his fourth season in the starting lineup. Cox has played over 2,000 career snaps and gives Eric Wolford a dependable veteran in the pivot.

Jalen Farmer (6-5, 314, RSo.)

Both guard spots are up for grabs, but the Florida transfer appears to have the inside track at right guard. Farmer was recruited heavily by Wolford at both Kentucky and Alabama. The Covington (Ga.) Eastside product has three years of eligibility remaining and projects to give the offense some downhill power in the run game.

Gerald Mincey (6-4, 335, RSr.)

The class of 2020 recruit started 13 games for Tennessee over the last two seasons spending time at both tackle spots. Mincey gives the offense another physical downhill mauler in the run game with over 1,000 career snaps played. The South Florida native will need to earn a starting spot in fall camp but Kentucky brought him in to fill the right tackle hole.

Kentucky’s Offensive Line Room

Ben Christman (6-6, 325, RJr.)

The former Ohio State transfer missed last season with a knee injury and will return to full football activities during fall camp. Christman is a guard with potential right tackle flex and figures to be a factor in position battles at both right and left. Another big offensive lineman with some downhill power. If you’re sensing a theme you are on the right track. There isn’t any hiding on what Kentucky wants to do on offense and Christman could help enhance the run game.

Anfernee Crease (6-6, 315, RSo.)

A junior college addition that Kentucky flipped from SMU, Crease looks like a true left tackle and still has three years of eligibility remaining. The Texas native is not expected to push for playing time this season but could give Kentucky a long-term left tackle after Marques Cox leaves. JUCO tape showed some intriguing pass protection tools.

Courtland Ford (6-6, 327, RSr.)

Ford is back for year two at Kentucky after playing in all 13 games with two starting assignments. The former USC transfer can play both tackle spots and has logged 11 career starts with 981 career snaps. The fifth-year player will compete with Gerald Mincey for a starting spot and could also emerge as Kentucky’s swing tackle.

Hayes Johnson (6-4, 300, Fr.)

Kentucky’s first recruiting win of the 2024 cycle flashes play strength at the point of attack on tape. Will need time in a strength & conditioning program to add good weight. Very likely redshirt candidate.

Koby Keenum (6-4, 302, RFr.)

The Alabama native was a solid recruiting win for Kentucky in the 2023 high school cycle. Keenum now enters year two in the program and should lock up the backup center position this fall camp. The second-year player will need to prove to the coaching staff this season that he can slide in as a full-time starter next year or a transfer at center could be needed in the offseason.

Daniel Mincey (6-4, 290, Fr.)

A late addition to the 2024 high school signing class, the younger Mincey will play tackle at Kentucky and is likely headed for a redshirt season. Will immediately help Kentucky’s numbers at tackle.

Marc Nave Jr. (6-6, 335, Fr.)

The former Ohio State commit ended up flipping to Kentucky and brings some great size to the position. Nave is a true guard with some tackle flex. Flashed good grip strength, functional athleticism, and a high-level frame on his high school tape. Owns the size and play strength to make an impact at a power conference level.

Austin Ramsey (6-4, 328, RFr.)

Another guard with some tackle flex potential, Ramsey redshirted in 2023 but generated some buzz during spring practice. The Philadelphia native is a potential young player to monitor in this room as he is another player with terrific size who could help enhance Kentucky’s downhill run game.

Dylan Ray (6-6, 310, RJr.)

The West Virginia transfer started 10 games for Kentucky at guard in 2023 and also owns some tackle flex. Ray is a former walk-on who gives Eric Wolford some much-needed veteran experience. Expect the Indiana native to compete for a starting spot in fall camp.

Aba Selm (6-4, 303, Fr.)

The Northern Kentucky native was an early enrollee and top-500 recruiting win for the Wildcats. Selm shows functional athleticism on film. Pass protection gives the true freshman a high floor and could help him find a spot sooner rather than later in the rotation.

Malachi Wood (6-8, 320, RFr.)

The second-year player created some buzz about his development last season and has added some good weight. Wood owns a great frame and still has a high ceiling as a prospect. Another development year is needed but this could become an important player to watch in spring 2025.

Kentucky’s ground game was explosive without a QB run element in 2023 but the Wildcats were not efficient. That was a positive step forward for the offensive line but better play is still needed for Kentucky to be who they want to be on offense.

QB run is returning to the offense with offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan and the offensive line should be improved for the second year in a row. The Wildcats have a boatload of experience and some legitimate experienced depth at both guard and tackle. Now we need to see if they can go displace big defensive fronts.

Mark Stoops has not shied away from saying that Kentucky needs better and more physical play from the offensive line. Eric Wolford was hired to help get this experienced group to the next level. Much is riding on the offensive line as Kentucky wants to get back to becoming one of the best rushing units in the SEC again.

Top Storyline: Eric Wolford’s return to Lexington

Mark Stoops surprised many when he decided to bring Eric Wolford back to Lexington and mend some fences from the previous ugly breakup. The hire also came quickly after Zach Yenser signed a contract extension. Stoops is making a big wager on the Youngstown native.

Wolford is inheriting a unit that might not have the highest ceiling but there is experience in spades and the floor should be fairly high. The Wildcats have an experienced center, a good SEC left tackle, and depth across the board. Improvement from last season is a reasonable expectation. Better recruiting results are also an expectation.

We have not seen Wolford reel in a top-250 target yet, but the offensive line coach did flip Anfernee Crease from an ACC program and was the lead recruiter for Darrin Strey and Bryan Auguste. The expectations are high but a lot of work needs to be done.

Wolford and the offensive line for the program both now and in the offseason. Some more transfer portal additions will likely be needed in December and the offensive line coach will be asked to land some high-quality players.

Bold Prediction: Kentucky’s offensive line produces multiple draft picks

Kentucky has only produced multiple NFL Draft picks on the offensive line one time. That was following the 2021 season led by Eric Wolford. The offensive line coach inherited some good talent and that will repeat itself in 2023.

I do not believe this unit will be as physically imposing as that one led by Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard, but there are some Day 3 picks in Kentucky’s lineup. Both tackles have a great chance to be drafted and Eli Cox has more than a puncher’s chance.

We see the Wildcats take a positive step in the trenches this fall and that ends with a couple more draft picks to sell on the recruiting trail.