Kentucky Football: 3 most underrated players entering 2020 season

Perhaps the SEC’s most underrated lineman, offensive tackle Darian Kinnard is set to break out as a junior in 2020.

The 6-5, 347-pound offensive tackle started all 13 games for UK at right tackle blocking for the SEC’s top ranked rushing attack. He was named second-team nationally by PFF, had 32 knockdowns, and committed just one penalty despite playing 706 snaps.

His best game came in a 50-7 UK win over UT-Martin. He graded out at 93 percent, had 13 blocks at the point of attack, including four plays that were touchdown run, did not allow any quarterback sacks and did not have any penalties or missed assignments as UK ran for 462 yards averaging 10.3 yards per attempt.

Kinnard has the frame, experience and discipline of an elite SEC offensive tackle and with a big season may not need to return to Lexington as he could find himself high up on the 2021 NFL Draft board.