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John Schlarman and the Big Blue Wall's NFL Draft Legacy

Once upon a time, Kentucky’s offensive line was a punchline. Now it’s one of the most well-respected units in football, both at the collegiate and professional level. John Schlarman was the mastermind behind the cultural transformation in Kentucky’s trenches and the evidence of success is still piling up.

Just a few months after Schlarman returned to Lexington as a member of Mark Stoops’ original coaching staff, Larry Warford was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Warford was the first Kentucky offensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft in 20 years.