Hello everyone and welcome back to the fourth installment of how the 2025 Wildcat football team stands heading into Spring practice. In case you missed them, first it was the quarterbacks. That was followed by the the running backs and finally the wide receivers. As the title suggests today’s focus is on the big guys up front. Much like several other spots on the team, there’s been a lot of turnover. Let’s take a deep dive into who’s no longer with the program and who is new with our Kentucky post-portal depth chart-offensive line.
Getting Back To What It Once Was
Looking For A New Home
Just a few years ago the Kentucky offensive line was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best. Since then the group has struggled to put it mildly. Over the last three years, the Big Blue Nation has seen Will Levis, Devin Leary and Brock Vandagriff constantly running for their lives.
To that end, Mark Stoops and offensive line coach Eric Wolford did a major overhaul on the roster. Koby Keenum transferred to Mississippi State, Dylan Ray is now at Minnesota. Courtland Ford, who came to Kentucky from USC, went back to the West Coast at UCLA.
An Unthinkable Tragedy
A fourth player, Ben Christman, transferred to UNLV. In case you hadn’t heard Christman tragically passed away recently. He played in every game last season primarily on special teams.
We are all at a loss right now hearing about the passing of Ben Christman. He was a player who came in every day and went to work. He was tough as nails on the field but off the field he was a gentle and kind soul. He was loved by all of us and our prayers go out to his family…
— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) February 12, 2025
Last Word extends our thoughts and prayers to his family and teammates both current and former.
New Cogs For The Big Blue Wall
The Wildcats brought in five transfers and four of them project to be starters. The group is headed by tackle Alex Wollschlaeger from Bowling Green. The 6-foot-7, 305-pounder is a two-time All-MAC selection including first team in 2024. He’s the eighth-best tackle in the portal and has played 2,341 snaps in his career. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Kentucky got help at the guard position in Arkansas transfer Joshua Braun. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound Braun started his career at Florida. After three years he left for Fayetteville where he was a second-team All-SEC selection. Those two likely are your starting right side of the line.
UK didn’t have to go far to find a new center. Evan Wibberley, from just down the road at Western Kentucky, announced a transfer to the Cats. The 6-5, 295-pound Wibberley started all 14 games at center for the Hilltoppers and received a 72 grade from Pro Football Focus. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
The lone holdover from 2024 is guard Jalen Farmer. He started all twelve games last season and is expected to move from right to left guard.
Wolford picked up a massive transfer, literally and figuratively, in New Mexico State’s Shiyzah Pete. Standing 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds Pete was a three-year starter for the Aggies. He chose the Cats over Vanderbilt which is significant due to the fact he spent three years protecting now-Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia.
The final newcomer is another tackle Wallace Unamba. The 6-4, 330-pounder was a two-time junior college All-American at Kilgore Community College in Texas. He played one season at Florida Atlantic before transferring to New Mexico. Unamba is likely a backup at both tackle positions.
That’s a whole lot of turnover on the line for 2025. As we continue with our Kentucky post-portal depth chart-offensive line let’s look at some players who can provide experience.
Waiting In The Wings
Kentucky has three linemen returning from 2024. Heading the list is Jager Burton. The senior has played in 38 games during his Wildcat career with 34 starts. Hailing from Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington, Burton can play a number of positions on the line.
Another returnee is Malachi Wood, a sophomore from Madison Central in nearby Richmond, Kentucky. During the 2024 season, Wood saw action in 11 games and started the final five. He’s a versatile option at both tackle spots. Our final player is Hayes Johnson, a redshirt freshman from Taylor County High School in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Johnson appeared in one game last season in the blowout win over Murray State. While listed as a center, he played both guard and tackle in high school.
That’s a look at everyone who’s new to the program with our Kentucky post-portal depth chart-offensive linemen.
Final Thoughts
As we mentioned in the beginning in an attempt to improve what’s been a trouble spot on the team Stoops and Wolford completely overhauled the offensive line. Another interesting thing is the fact the Cats went after top players from Group Of Five Schools rather than the Power Four. Will it pay off come September? We’ll have to wait and see.
Thanks for checking out our Kentucky post-portal depth chart-offensive line here at Last Word On College Football. Next time we’ll flip to the defense starting with the line.
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