Kentucky seeks to rebuild the Big Blue Wall with ‘Most violent puller’

When CBS Draft Analyst Mike Renner turned on Lance Heard’s tape, his assessment was blunt and downright terrifying for opposing SEC defenses. He called the former Tennessee tackle “one of the most violent pullers I’ve ever seen.” That kind of pure aggression is exactly what Will Stein needed as he made it a priority to rebuild the Big Blue Wall.

For those unfamiliar with the trenches, a pull in football happens when an offensive lineman drops back from their standard position right at the snap and runs laterally parallel to the line of scrimmage. Their goal is to cross the formation and act as a mobile lead blocker, absolutely clearing out linebackers or defensive backs to open up a massive running lane for the ball carrier.

Heard executes this assignment with devastating intentions, bringing a bulldozer mentality to Kentucky. Look at the tape:

Once cornerstones in the Kentucky program under the legendary John Schlarman, both Eric Wolford and Zach Yenser previously tried to rebuild the offensive line through the transfer portal. Neither was successful enough to restore the dominance that helped the Cats reach two 10-win seasons, even though one of those seasons was vacated.

Kentucky gave up an alarming 2.92 sacks per game in 2024, and while the number slightly improved to 2.42 in 2025, the underlying issues remained painfully obvious. If you watched the games, you consistently saw Brock Vandagriff running for his life in the backfield in 2024 and Cutter Boley constantly moving the pocket to find enough time to make throws last season.

They just were not that great at pass protection, but they fundamentally failed to open the big holes needed for runs, too. In 2025, the Wildcats struggled mightily on the ground, averaging a pedestrian 3.9 yards per carry, ranking slightly above UAB. The offensive line could not generate the consistent push required to sustain a physical rushing attack.

But with Heard now setting a violent tone on the outside, the interior is secured by Coleton Price. Widely seen as one of the best returning centers in all of college football, Price brings elite blocking grades and a vital veteran presence to organize protections at the line of scrimmage. Anchored by the most violent puller in the game and an elite center, the Big Blue Wall is finally back in good hands.