Kentucky had a clear No. 1 goal once the 2024 season ended — fix the offensive line. Head coach Mark Stoops addressed it multiple times and allowed offensive line coach Eric Wolford to use NIL resources to fix the Big Blue Wall. That rebuild officially ended on Wednesday when James Madison tackle transfer Cameron Jones committed to Kentucky.
Kentucky is now up to 15 scholarship players in the offensive line room. Only four were on the team last year. A roster flip has been completed. How much better did the offensive line get? That is something we will find out when the games begin this fall. But first, KSR is taking a closer look at what was lost, what was added, and what returns as this positional unit could determine if the Wildcats sink or swim this season.
Transfer Departures
Ben Christman (UNLV): The former four-star recruit spent two seasons at Kentucky after starting his career at Ohio State. Christman landed at UNLV but passed away in February.
Anfernee Crease (Texas State): Eric Wolford added the junior college transfer last summer but the tackle lasted just one season with the program. Crease will play in the Sun Belt in 2025.
Courtland Ford (UCLA): The former USC transfer spent two seasons at Kentucky and served as a backup. The tackle is now back in Los Angeles with one year of eligibility remaining.
Koby Keenum (Mississippi State): A solid three-star recruiting win over multiple power conference schools in the 2023 high school cycle, Keenum entered the portal in the winter and quickly landed at Mississippi State.
Daniel Mincey (Transfer Portal): A surprise addition to the 2024 high school class, Mincey entered the transfer portal after spring practice and is currently looking for his next college football home.
Marc Nave Jr. (Purdue): The Toledo native was a former Ohio State commit who ultimately signed with Kentucky. The class of 2024 product entered the portal after spring practice and quickly landed in the Big Ten.
Dylan Ray (Minnesota): A former walk-on at West Virginia, Ray started 12 games over two seasons at Kentucky playing both guard spots and some tackle. The two-time transfer will spend his final year in the Big Ten.
Wallace Unamba (Virginia): The New Mexico transfer was a winter transfer portal addition for the Wildcats. After playing right tackle in the Mountain West, Unamba was running with the second unit at guard during Kentucky’s spring practice. The multi-time transfer entered the portal in the spring and will be at his fourth school in 2025.
Kentucky’s 2025 offensive line room
Jermiel Atkins (6-8, 305 | Freshman): A three-star recruit out of Ohio is a true tackle who will arrive on campus this summer. Atkins needs some development and should be headed for a redshirt season in 2025.
Bryan J. Auguste (6-4, 291 | Freshman): The three-star recruit out of South Florida went through spring practice at Kentucky. Auguste is an undersized tackle that will be given time to develop.
Joshua Braun (6-6, 342 | Super Senior): The Arkansas transfer was arguably Kentucky’s best addition of the winter transfer portal window. The former All-SEC performer is expected to start at left guard and could be the best player on the offense.
Jager Burton (6-4, 322 | Redshirt Senior): The multi-year starter has switched positions again but seemingly earned a starting spot during spring camp. Burton will open the season as Kentucky’s starting center for his last year in college football.
Jayden Clark (6-4, 300 | Freshman): A three-star recruit out of Dayton will arrive on campus this summer. Clark looks like a potential center down the road due to the positional athleticism he brings to the table but is likely headed for a redshirt season.
Jalen Farmer (6-5, 314 | Redshirt Junior): A former Florida transfer, Farmer held down the right guard spot for Kentucky last year and will be a second-year starter in 2025. The class of 2023 product might have the highest-ceiling of any starter on the UK offensive line.
Rob Fogler (6-7, 304 | Redshirt Sophomore): A Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier product, Fogler spent two seasons at Ball State before entering the spring transfer portal. Kentucky added the MAC transfer to add depth at tackle.
Hayes Johnson (6-4, 301 | Redshirt Freshman): The in-state product took a redshirt season in year one and will provide depth on the interior in year two. It appears that UK is cross-training Johnson at both center and guard.
Cameron Jones (6-6, 330 | Redshirt Sophomore): The tackle spent two seasons in the C-USA at James Madison before entering the spring transfer portal. Jones has not played an offensive snap in college football yet but bring size and multiple years of eligibility at tackle.
Shiyazh Pete (6-8, 321 | Redshirt Senior): A three-year starter at New Mexico State, Kentucky added the first-team All-CUSA lineman to play left tackle. Pete will arguably be the most important player on the offense this season.
Aba Selm (6-4, 303 | Redshirt Freshman): The Independence (Ky.) Simon Kenton product was a strong recruiting win for Kentucky in the 2024 high school cycle. Selm will be a backup guard in year two and should be in position to take over a starting spot in 2025.
Darrin Strey (6-7, 305 | Freshman): The four-star recruit out of Michigan was a very good recruiting win for Eric Wolford. Strey was on campus for spring practice but shouldn’t be needed in 2025. Strey could push for a starting position as a redshirt freshman in 2026.
Evan Wibberley (6-5, 301 | Redshirt Junior): A starting center in the C-USA at WKU in 2024, Wibberley entered the winter transfer portal window and landed at Kentucky. The Northern Kentucky native was running with the second-team offense in spring practice.
Alex Wollschlaeger (6-7, 310 | Super Senior): Wollschlaeger was a multi-year starter at Bowling Green and a first-team All-MAC selection in 2024. The transfer immediately plugged in at RT1 and should be there in Week 1.
Malachi Wood (6-8, 326 | Redshirt Sophomore): The Richmond (Ky.) Madison Central product started five games for Kentucky last season at right tackle. Wood enters the season as Kentucky’s swing tackle and could be ready to step into a full-time starting role in 2026.
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