What Kenneth Horsey’s return to Kentucky football means for 2023 offensive line

Kentucky football’s most experienced offensive lineman is returning for the 2023 season.

Senior Kenneth Horsey announced Thursday he will use the extra year of eligibility granted all players during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to return to Kentucky. Horsey spent the 2022 season as the Wildcats’ primary left tackle but is expected to move back to his natural guard position next season.

UK coaches have spoken of Horsey as a piece for the 2023 offensive line since the last month of the regular season, but Horsey told reporters before the Music City Bowl he had not made a final decision about his future.

“I know it’s my responsibility as a captain to make sure everything is still running smooth, no matter who’s playing and who’s not playing,” Horsey said then. “It’s my responsibility and the older guys’ responsibility to make sure everybody, the younger guys understand how they need to practice, how they need to prepare. I have time to make that decision stuff later.”

A team captain, Horsey has appeared in 37 games with 33 consecutive starts in those appearances. He primarily played guard in 2019, 2020 and 2021, but moved to left tackle in 2022 after former starter Dare Rosenthal left school early to declare for the NFL Draft and several younger linemen proved they were not ready to take over the position.

Horsey started 11 of the 12 games he appeared in this season, coming off the bench only in the season opener when he was working his way back from an injury that had caused him to miss most of preseason practice.

What Horsey’s return means for 2023 Kentucky offensive line

With Horsey back in the fold, Kentucky is on track to return four of five starters from the 2022 offensive line. Right guard Tashawn Manning has exhausted his eligibility. Horsey is likely to move back to left guard, where he spent the majority of his UK career prior to this season, opening the left tackle job for Northern Illinois transfer Marquis Cox.

If Cox and Horsey hold down the left side of the line and Eli Cox returns at center, that leaves two jobs open for competition. Sophomore Jager Burton, who started at left guard this season, and Alabama transfer Tanner Bowles are the leading contenders for the right guard job. Senior Jeremy Flax would face competition from junior Deondre Buford, sophomore David Wohlabaugh and redshirt freshman Nik Hall to retain his starting right tackle job.

Former five-star offensive tackle recruit Kiyaunta Goodwin entered the transfer portal after playing primarily on special teams for Kentucky as a freshman but has yet to commit to a new school.

Kentucky could still look to the transfer portal for additional offensive line help. UK has reportedly offered a scholarship to Eastern Michigan offensive tackle transfer Marcellus Johnson.

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