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Kentucky offensive line coach Zach Yenser appreciates what UK’s defensive linemen do daily to test his players even when they might win the line of scrimmage battle.

“If we can protect against those guys and run the ball we can do it against anybody in the SEC,” Yenser said. “I truly believe that.”

Yenser would even like to see Deone Walker, a freshman all-American in 2022, flip over and play on the offensive line at times because of his power, size and agility.

“The thing about Deone is he is one of my favorite human beings that I have ever been around,” Yenser said. “He is freaky talented but such a good dude. He’s not prideful. He’s very humble.

“He is the type of guy who can succeed and have a long NFL career because he has special talent. He is so tough to block one one-on-one for anybody. That dude is a very good player and is only going to get better. He makes us better every day that we have to go against him because there’s nobody better that we will play all year.”

Kentucky associate coach Vince Marrow is the team’s NFL liaison, and even though Walker will only be eligible for the draft after his junior year numerous NFL scouts are already asking about him.

“All the scouts talk about how athletic he is. We have some pretty good sophomores who are going to be good NFL prospects, but Deone is a guy you cannot help but notice,” Marrow said. “He was a real problem in (preseason) camp.”

Marrow compared Walker to what former college and NBA players faced when they tried to defend Shaquille O’Neal because of his size.

“He’s only going to be in school three years with Stew (UK defensive line coach Anwar Stewart) getting little things out of him so he can go more plays instead of just three or four plays. At the next level he is going to be really good.”