Mitch Barnhart once again showing how unserious he is at building a football program
How Does Eric Wolford Keep Failing Up?
First, let’s be fair: Eric Wolford recruits at an elite level.
When it comes to stacking up talent in the trenches, he gets the job done. That’s a vital piece in college football, especially in the SEC where games are often won at the line of scrimmage. But at some point, results have to matter.
And that’s where the bewilderment begins.
Wolford, who actually left Kentucky mid-recruiting trip to join Alabama’s staff, has now been rewarded with a contract extension and a $100,000 raise, bringing his salary to $900,000 in 2025 and $925,000 in 2026, according to Kentucky’s Office of Legal Counsel. The news dropped quietly, but the reaction from Big Blue Nation was anything but.
Let’s talk performance.
In 2022, under then-OL coach Zach Yenser, Kentucky allowed just 16 sacks—ranking 44th nationally. Not elite, but solid. Wolford, meanwhile, presided over Alabama’s line that same year and watched it give up a staggering 49 sacks, which ranked tied for 129th—alongside Wake Forest. Yes, Jalen Milroe has a tendency to hold the ball, but when you combine that with five-star linemen, those numbers should still raise alarms.
Then came Wolford’s return to Lexington. In 2024, Kentucky allowed 35 sacks, ranking tied for 114th nationally with Eastern Michigan. That’s not exactly elite company.
The most frustrating part? The regression has been obvious. Last season’s line was arguably the weakest link on a 4-8 team, consistently putting quarterback Brock Vandagriff in harm’s way and derailing any kind of offensive rhythm. The run game sputtered. Pass protection was leaky. And somehow, this earns a raise?
Let’s put it simply: you can recruit all the Jimmys and Joes you want, but if you can’t coach them up even a little, what’s the point?
Fans didn’t hold back:
Look, maybe 2025 is the year Wolford turns it around. Maybe the offensive line takes a massive leap forward. He certainly has the talent in the room to make it happen. But giving a raise and extension right now—fresh off a 4-8 season, when the offensive line was visibly overwhelmed—feels like tone-deaf timing.
In sports, timing is everything.
And this extension just feels wrong.