The "Big Blue Wall," once a defining feature of Kentucky football, is in dire need of a rebuild. After a season marred by poor performance—even against lower-tier opponents like Murray State and Southern Miss—head coach Mark Stoops and his staff are doubling down on rebuilding the offensive line. With key departures, including both starting tackles and the starting center, Kentucky has turned to the transfer portal for reinforcements.
The latest addition is Wallace Unamba, a 6’4”, 330-pound tackle from New Mexico. Unamba, a former three-star recruit out of high school, comes to Kentucky with hopes of stabilizing a line that struggled mightily last season. While not currently ranked as a transfer by 247Sports, Unamba’s size and experience make him a hopeful piece in the Wildcats’ rebuilding efforts. Doesn't hurt that he is a 3 time Juco All-American either.
Unamba joins a line that has already secured commitments from guards Joshua Braun and Alexander Wollschlaeger. Braun, a transfer from Arkansas, and Wollschlaeger, bring potential inside, but will need to prove themselves quickly in bad Kentucky OL room. The addition of Unamba highlights Kentucky’s ongoing focus on finding players who can immediately contribute to a line that allowed constant pressure and struggled to open running lanes in 2024. They still need tackle help and would not be surprising to see them dip into the portal again.
One concern for fans is the mixed results of last year’s transfer additions. Tackle Marquez Cox was brought in to shore up the line but failed to meet expectations, leaving doubts about whether Kentucky’s current strategy will yield better results. Do fans trust Stoops and the staff to recognize and then develop this line into a good unit?
The Wildcats’ offensive struggles last year, paired with significant losses in the trenches, leave little margin for error. If Unamba and the rest of the new additions can’t elevate their play, the Big Blue Wall may remain a shadow of its former self. As will Kentucky football.
As always you can find the latest information regarding Kentucky in the transfer portal, by clicking here.