2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Offensive Line

Yesterday, UK announced that senior offensive tackle Zipp Duncan and senior defensive tackle Corey Peters have been elected captains of this year’s Kentucky Wildcats. As fans, we don’t devote much time to thinking about the trenches. It’s not nearly as much fun to think about a left tackle who allows a QB to never have to think about his backside as a wide receiver that runs a 4.4 40 yard dash.

However, the election of an offensive and defensive lineman as the two captains of this year’s team is further proof of the importance of those inglamorous positions. With that in mind, we continue our series of positional previews for UK football with the offensive lineman.

This season, UK returns a great deal of experience on the O-Line. UK will return 3 of 5 starters on the offensive line, and also Christian Johnson, who started all 15 games in 2006-2007 but redshirted last year due to a back injury.

Last year’s unit was one that had excellent statistics in a couple key areas: 4th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed and 11th in the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed. However, the offensive line will be called on to improve this season, particularly in the running game.

Let’s go ahead and take a look at the players by position:

Tackle

Starters

Zipp Duncan

The offensive captain has made a significant change from 2008 to this season: he has moved from left guard to left tackle. Anybody who knows a thing about football knows how important left tackles are to a quarterback, particularly a right handed quarterback. QB’s rely on the LT to protect their highly vulnerable backsides, and if they don’t, it’s tough to really even function at the position.

Therefore, Duncan’s move from LG to LT is one that bears close watching this season. Duncan is accustomed to making adjustments: he came to UK as a tight end and defensive end and has played both guard positions since making the move.

Zipp is a 5th year senior who has already completed a degree in kinesiology who will work toward a second major this year.

He is a bit small by SEC standards for a left tackle, but Mike Hartline will most certainly feel comfortable having a guy who has made 26 consecutive starts the last two seasons who was an all conference selection last season.

Justin Jeffries

The senior St. Xavier product enters the 2009 season as the projected starter at right tackle opposite Duncan. He contributed from his first step on campus, as he was named to the SEC All Freshman team as a true freshman in 2006.

He started all 13 games during his sophomore campaign in 2007 and started 9 games last year at right tackle, missing 4 due to a knee injury. At 6-6 320, he has prototypical size for his position.

Contributors

Billy Joe Murphy

Billy Joe is a redshirt sophomore who will likely be a utility player this year who will step into a starting role when Jeffries and Duncan depart. Due to injuries, he played both tackle positions, including 3 starts, and could likely even contribute at guard if called upon.

Brad Durham

Durham stepped in at right tackle in Justin Jeffries’ absence. The junior made 3 starts and played the position while Jeffries was injured during the spring. Durham, like Jeffries, has contributed since his freshman year.

Backups

Trevino Woods

Woods is a redshirt freshman who could see some playing time if there are injuries, but he is likely a year away from contributing significantly. He has already added 10 pounds to his 6-5 274 pound frame since arriving on campus and will look to add more as he develops.

Guard

Starters

Christian Johnson

As I said earlier, Johnson redshirted last season due to a back injury and now is expected to start at left guard. He also happens to be Micah Johnson’s brother. He was a durable player his first 3 seasons at UK, appearing in 36 of 39 games.

Stuart Hines

Hines was a very highly regarded tackle prospect coming out of high school (#25 at the position according to Rivals) who redshirted his first year and played in 12 games during his freshman season. He has played some at both guard positions in practice but I expect him to start, even though there is competition at the position.

Contributors

Larry Warford

Warford is a big man. At 6-3 349, he has thoroughly impressed as a true freshman, and could well be the first guard off the bench. He is pushing Hines for his starting job. He was ranked as the 4th best prospect in Kentucky and among the top 30 guards nationally.

Jake Lanefski

Lanefski is another prime candidate to start at right guard. He made four starts to close 2008 when Jess Beets went down with an injury. Before moving to guard, he was a backup center. He has developed nicely at UK: he played only 1 year of football in high school so he has quite a bit of room to grow.

Dave Ulinski

Ulinski is a redshirt freshman out of Manual High School in Louisville. He moved from center when he arrived on campus. His grandfather is UK great Harry Ulinski.

Sean Stackhouse

Stackhouse is another redshirt freshman who will get his first chance to suit up. He is making the move from tight end so he is trying to bulk up his frame (6-4 266).

Center

Starter

Jorge Gonzalez

As you may know, Gonzalez has been suspended for the season opener against Miami (OH). Gonzalez is on the preseason watchlist for the Rimington Award as the top center nationally. He saw little action his first two seasons, but emerged as a junior.

Contributors

Matt Smith

Smith, a redshirt freshman, is one of two candidates to get the opening game start in place of Gonzalez. He’s another St. Xavier product, but played mainly defensive line while there.

Marcus Davis

Davis is the other center who could get a start in the opener. The Boone County alumni played guard in high school but impressed at center when he was forced to play there by injuries. He played in 4 games last season as a redshirt sophomore.