Post by Lawdog on Jul 15, 2012 15:19:03 GMT -5
ESPN continues its Southeastern Conference position rankings with the big uglies on the offensive line. Perhaps the most overlooked position on the field; every football play starts at the line of scrimmage with the boys in the trenches. It’s not a glamorous place to play, and the line is only doing their job well when nobody notices them.
Up front, Kentucky is dwarfed by some the typical powerhouse Southeastern Conference teams. But when you lose three starters out of five from a season ago, that’s going to drop your position no matter what.
13. Kentucky: The Wildcats lost three starters from a line that struggled throughout 2011, but vets Larry Warford and Matt Smith are back to provide a solid center-guard combo. However, they’ll be asked to help a cluster of youngsters. The left side is gone and will be replaced by youngsters Zach West (redshirt freshman) and Darrian Miller (sophomore). Right tackle Kevin Mitchell started just one game last year. Any sort of injury up front would be devastating for the Cats.
Offensive line coach Mike Summers has plenty of work cut out for him. One of the strongest points of the team last season was supposed to be the line, anchored by Chandler Burden, Billy Joe Murphy and Stuart Hines. They underwhelmed, to say the least. Now that combined nine years of experience is gone, and it’s up to Matt Smith and Larry Warford to teach the young guns how it’s done. The entire offense depends on it.
Individually, ESPN rated Warford the seventh-best offensive lineman in the conference.
7. Larry Warford, Sr., Kentucky: Warford has come a long way since his freshman year. He’s been Kentucky’s top lineman for the past couple of seasons and is rated high on a lot of NFL draft boards out there. He’s an athletic and versatile player, who could line up at other positions if needed.
Much more is expected of Warford, as well. He was named to the Outland Trophy watch list, awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman on both sides of the ball. Warford joins 70 other names, including 18 from the SEC. Alabama center Barrett Jones will be defending his award from last season.
Up front, Kentucky is dwarfed by some the typical powerhouse Southeastern Conference teams. But when you lose three starters out of five from a season ago, that’s going to drop your position no matter what.
13. Kentucky: The Wildcats lost three starters from a line that struggled throughout 2011, but vets Larry Warford and Matt Smith are back to provide a solid center-guard combo. However, they’ll be asked to help a cluster of youngsters. The left side is gone and will be replaced by youngsters Zach West (redshirt freshman) and Darrian Miller (sophomore). Right tackle Kevin Mitchell started just one game last year. Any sort of injury up front would be devastating for the Cats.
Offensive line coach Mike Summers has plenty of work cut out for him. One of the strongest points of the team last season was supposed to be the line, anchored by Chandler Burden, Billy Joe Murphy and Stuart Hines. They underwhelmed, to say the least. Now that combined nine years of experience is gone, and it’s up to Matt Smith and Larry Warford to teach the young guns how it’s done. The entire offense depends on it.
Individually, ESPN rated Warford the seventh-best offensive lineman in the conference.
7. Larry Warford, Sr., Kentucky: Warford has come a long way since his freshman year. He’s been Kentucky’s top lineman for the past couple of seasons and is rated high on a lot of NFL draft boards out there. He’s an athletic and versatile player, who could line up at other positions if needed.
Much more is expected of Warford, as well. He was named to the Outland Trophy watch list, awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman on both sides of the ball. Warford joins 70 other names, including 18 from the SEC. Alabama center Barrett Jones will be defending his award from last season.