Kentucky football notes: Could the NFL steal away Liam Coen after one year?
National Signing Day is Wednesday, but don’t expect to hear much out of Lexington.
Kentucky during the early signing period in December signed, through a combination of high school seniors and college transfers, 22 players. One of them — junior-college defensive back Zahquan Frazier — was released from his letter of intent in January after opting not to enroll at UK; he’s now expected to sign with UTSA, the leader in his original recruitment before UK flipped him late. His position is one that the Wildcats are likely to further address before the 2022 season, but it’s probably not going to do that this week.
There’s anticipation that UK will sign just one player during the “regular” signing period, the fervor around which has been dampened considerably by the three-day December window. Defensive end Noah Matthews, a Delaware standout who’s rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals and for whom defensive coordinator Brad White has served as a primary recruiter, makes his announcement at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The longtime Illinois lean visited Kentucky over the weekend.
Matthews’ position is one where UK needs to develop long-term depth. Early enrollee Tomiwa Durojaiye, another White recruit, and Ohio State transfer Darrion Henry-Young — not among the December recruits but already in the Kentucky strength-and-conditioning program — will have a leg up on him in terms of vying for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart at end (behind Tre’vonn Rybka) but he would provide another option down the road as the defensive line transitions to a life without Josh Paschal anchoring it.
Other areas of apparent need — the secondary and offensive tackle, in the wake of Dare Rosenthal’s decision to leave early for the NFL Draft — probably won’t be addressed until spring camps are completed across the country and players have a better handle on where they stand going into the fall. The deadline for first-time transfers to enter the transfer portal and be immediately eligible at their next school without a waiver is May 1; expect another free-agent frenzy across college football in April.
Liam Coen
UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s name has been tossed around as a candidate for the same job at Miami under Mario Cristobal. No disrespect to “The U,” but at this juncture that feels like a lateral move, at best. Coen has an established, successful quarterback at Kentucky, a stable full of blue-chip wide receivers, many of whom he had a hand in picking, and a running back on the verge of setting the school rushing record. There aren’t too many college jobs that have more to offer, talent-wise, than Kentucky does in 2022.
The NFL, though? That’s another can of worms. Coen, who came to UK by way of the Los Angeles Rams last year, seems destined for a short residence in Lexington; he’s young, personable and runs a version of the offense that both Super Bowl 56 teams will deploy when they take the field on Feb. 13. He has “future NFL offensive coordinator” written all over him. Should that go well, head coach — at a major college program or in the league — probably will happen not too long after.
If current Rams OC Kevin O’Connell is hired away, there might be cause for concern that the man who brought balance to Kentucky’s offense might be gone. O’Connell has interviewed twice in recent weeks for open head coaching positions with the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings; the third-year offensive coordinator is among the hottest commodities in the pro ranks.
Normally, a first-year college offensive coordinator might not garner much interest from the next level, but Coen isn’t a normal candidate; he’s closely familiar with the Rams and, one imagines, would make for a seamless fit. Rams head coach Sean McVay told ESPN’s Joe Tessitore last July that Coen was one of his most-trusted assistants prior to his departure.
It may amount to nothing, even if O’Connell leaves L.A.; Coen just got a 46-percent pay bump from last season (he’s set to make $1.1 million this year at UK). Just worth keeping in the back of your mind, in case he does.
Offensive line
A couple other names to watch as UK begins looking for a new offensive line assistant: Greg Studrawa and Walt Wells.
Studrawa was Ohio State’s offensive line coach for the last six seasons but did not have his contract with the Buckeyes extended last month. He’s spent most his coaching career in Ohio but also coached seven years at LSU, winning a national title with the Tigers.
Wells was a quality-control assistant at UK before taking the position of head coach at EKU ahead of the 2020 season. The Colonels are coming off a 7-4 campaign and Wells was named Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year. Before his time at UK, he primarily coached offensive line in the college ranks, including for 10 seasons at Western Kentucky.
This story was originally published February 1, 2022 at 12:56 PM.
