Matchups that matter: USM's offensive tackles will be tested
In this series previewing the key matchups in Kentucky's opener we turn to look at the Southern Miss offensive tackles.
The Golden Eagles will be breaking in two new starters at tackle.
While Kentucky's pass rush isn't seen by most as one of the program's bigger strengths heading into the season, this is one opportunity for the Cats to get after the quarterback.
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USM OT's Ty Pollard and Will Freeman vs. Kentucky's defensive line, Jack and LB's
Ty Pollard and Will Freeman will have their hands full on Sept. 3. They'll both be starting the first game at tackle when the Golden Eagles travel to Commonwealth Stadium.
Freeman is a fifth year senior and a converted defensive tackle who hasn't played on the offensive line since high school. If that sounds like bad news for Southern Miss, it may prove to be. But it's not as though he was just awarded the position by default. At one point it appeared Jacob Fleming would be starting at left tackle for Southern Miss, but more recently he was unseated by Freeman.
He's 6-foot-6 but only 275 pounds, and that means he may be the lightest offensive tackle Kentucky's defensive line will have faced in some time.
Freeman suffered a broken leg in USM's game against Mississippi State last year, so this season is a bit of a comeback mission for him. USM head coach Jay Hopson and quarterback Nick Mullens have both been complimentary of Freeman through fall camp.
Pollard is much younger than Freeman. He'll be playing on the right side. The redshirt freshman is also significantly bigger - also 6-foot-6 but 315 pounds, or 40 pounds heavier than Freeman.
On the edges Kentucky will throw players like defensive end Alvonte Bell, defensive lineman Courtney Miggins, Jack linebacker Denzil Ware and whatever blitzers they send - from Kobie Walker to Josh Allen or others.
Who has the edge?
Those players on the edge for Kentucky are largely unproven and many of them are young. But in this game they won't be more inexperienced than their counterparts. They're also more athletic.
Freeman might make Southern Miss longer and more athletic at tackle than they would be if he were on defense. But Kentucky fans should know that Shannon Dawson's offense can put the tackles in some precarious positions, asking them to block for a long time while receivers run deep vertical routes.
Kentucky has a lot of length, speed and depth to throw at these two new tackles for Southern Miss. Expect the Cats to throw the house at both players throughout the game, trying to get to Mullens and throw him off early.
How it will play out
Kentucky's best chance to win this game going away is to force turnovers, pressure Mullen and knock him around. The best way to do that is to challenge USM's tackles. They'll do that and frankly there are too many question marks for the Golden Eagles here, from Pollard's youth to Freeman's inexperience and lack of size at the position. Kentucky has questions of their own related to the pass rush, but if they can't pressure USM then the problem is much bigger than that game.