Deondre Buford, Cincinnati Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/09/22 - OG Deondre Buford, rJr/2026, Cincinnati

The college football punditry class is not misguided in thinking the single biggest key to UK success this season is whether Buford and Flax can play at a level similar to that at which recent Kentucky tackles George Asafo-Adjei (seventh round, New York Giants, 2019); Landon Young (sixth round, New Orleans Saints, 2021); and Darian Kinnard (fifth round, Kansas City Chiefs, 2022) have performed. "I think our tackles are pretty good," new UK offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello says. "I think they are going to surprise people." Though both began their football journeys in Motown, Buford and Flax arrived in Lexington facing opposite personal challenges to getting on the field.

Buford was ranked the No. 24 offensive tackle prospect in the class of 2020 by 24/7 Sports, praised by the recruiting geeks for his athleticism. However, the product of Detroit's Martin Luther King High School needed to add bulk to his 6-foot-3 frame in UK's conditioning program to hold up against SEC pass rushers. "I came in (to college), probably, 275 pounds," Buford says. "Right now, today, I weighed in at 312 pounds. After practice, it was 308. So I am kind of right where I need to be." At 6-3, Buford does not have the prototypical height of a Southeastern Conference offensive tackle. "I think they kind of 'shorted me," Buford says with a grin. "I might be 6-4." Stand next to him and observe how long his arms are, and you decide it is not just happy talk when UK coaches say, height not withstanding, Buford has the length to play left tackle vs. SEC pass rushers. - Herald Leader

rJr/2026