Position groups to follow in Kentucky's 2026 spring game

The Kentucky Wildcats spring game is set to take place on Saturday, Apr. 18 at 11 A.M. ET. This will be our first look at the Will Stein era in Lexington. The Wildcats will look vastly different in 2026, and with a noticeable roster turnover we will look at which positions to follow closely in the spring game.

Offensive Guards

The new staff put an emphasis on retooling and reviving the once proclaimed “big blue wall”. The offensive line has not lived up to that moniker since Liam Coen was on the sidelines with Mark Stoops in 2021. With Tennessee Volunteers transfer Lance Heard coming in to solidify Kenny Minchey’s blindside at left tackle and Baylor transfer Coleton Price being inserted at Center, the offense has two of the most valuable spots on the offensive line set with a ton of playing experience under their belts. One of the bigger questions is where will Ohio State transfer Tegra Tshabola line up this fall. Tshabola played right guard at Ohio State for the 2024 National Championship team; however, Coach Stein mentioned him at left guard in a recent interview.

Those three have a played a ton of snaps in college football, and which side Tshabola lines up will determine the other position battle opposite of him. Tennessee transfer Max Anderson could be the leader in the clubhouse at this moment, as his name has been brought up for his performance in spring practice. Northwestern transfer Jordan Knox is another candidate to start, as he is returning from last season where he did not see much action. Aba Selm is the final candidate, who was once a big recruiting win for Vince Marrow and Mark Stoops that has yet to hit his stride.

This will help give a clearer picture of what we can expect from this offensive line once the season rolls around. The thought of Heard and Tshabola together on the left side, with Price at center forms a dangerous left side of the offensive line that they can lean on. It also makes sense to have the more inexperienced guard be able to lineup between Heard and Price, both of which are two of the most experienced offensive lineman in the SEC. That would allow Tshabola to lineup at right guard where he has more experience, which in turn would help ease some growing pains for whoever takes the right tackle spot.

Right Tackle

One of the biggest position battles to follow is at right tackle. This position is between three candidates: the returning Malachi Wood who has gotten his feet wet in SEC play, UTEP transfer Mark Robinson who was dominant at times last season at a lower level, or Alabama transfer Olaus Alinen who has some experience playing tackle and guard for the Crimson Tide.

Wood has all the tools to become a full time starter in the SEC. However, he has struggled when he has had in game opportunities. His inexperience has been shown at times over the past two seasons, with SEC edge defenders being able to out muscle him as well as bend the edge to get to the quarterback. He possesses the ability to form into a reliable right tackle but that is what offensive line coach Cutter Leftwich will have to get out of him.

Robinson could be the favorite at this moment, he has the most promising film of the three to this point. He had exceptional reps in pass protection last season, but the question surrounding Robinson is if his performance at UTEP can translate to SEC play. It is no secret that edge defenders in the SEC are just bigger, faster and stronger. If he can adjust to the speed of play in this conference, he will take the reins at right tackle.

Alinen is last but not least, as he had spent some time on the interior and at right tackle last season for the Crimson Tide. Alinen is a name that has been mentioned when talking about standouts at spring practice early on, so he is definitely getting a shot to secure a starting spot. Coach Stein is not afraid to throw in some 6 OL formations from his time at Oregon and Alinen would fit that bill.

Wide Receivers

This wide receiver room had a complete overhaul, as the only returning players with playing time from last season are DJ Miller and Hardley Gilmore. I would expect Miller to potentially become that go-to guy for Kenny Minchey. Miller showed flashes last season in SEC play, showing off his speed and contested catch ability that could make him a great deep threat option for the Cats. Gilmore will add experience to the room as well.

A lot of focus is on Nic Anderson, a big-bodied wideout who moves effortlessly at his size. Anderson had a breakout true freshman season at Oklahoma, but he did not build off that when he transferred to LSU as injuries really halted his progression. Coach Stein mentioned Anderson popping off the screen when watching his old quarterback at Oregon, Dillon Gabriel, throw deep shots down the field in Norman. If Anderson can return to that form, this wide receiver room can takeoff in the fall.

Shane Carr was efficient at Southern Utah, an FCS school, where he posted 81 catches, 1,371 yards and 10 touchdowns over two seasons. True freshman Kenny Darby was the initial big recruiting win for the new staff, led by offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. Former Louisville Cardinal and Lexington-native Brock Coffman has received a ton of buzz since the start of spring practice—keep an eye on him this Saturday. Arkansas transfer Ja'Kayden Ferguson is another player that can find his way in the rotation.

Miller and Anderson are the top two options on paper, they both have a large catch radius with their 6'3 and 6'4 frames. Carr and Ferguson both stand at 6'2 and become key aspects of the rotation. Darby and Coffman seem to be the traditional slot/gadget guys that can carve out a role in the offense. The biggest takeaway is the size of this room, every player I have mentioned is above 6-foot tall.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky football spring game: Key position groups to watch