Portal Profile: Kentucky OT Darrin Strey

By Hunt Palmer

Time will tell how the departed LSU offensive linemen play at their new spots.

Part of the downfall of the Brian Kelly era was the production up front. LSU offensive staff was not retained by Lane Kiffin, and that included offensive line coach Brad Davis. The highly-rated signees he brought into the program largely dispersed. Many landed back at SEC programs.

That meant LSU had to all but start over up front. Senior center Braelin Moore returned, and starting right tackle Weston Davis did, too. The Bordelon brothers, Bo and Brett, stuck around, too. Some young potential depth pieces remained.

But there had to be a major influx of personnel up front. There was.

WHAT WE KNOW

Darrin Strey‘s profile fits a lot of what Davis and Kelly brought in. He’s 6-foot-7 and a lean 305 lbs. He was a four-star recruit according to On3 who called him the No. 23 offensive tackle in the Class of 2025. 247sports also pegged him as a four-star.

He played basketball and threw the discus in high school. He also set his high school’s record with 21 tackles for loss as a senior on the defensive side. Wisconsin, Illinois and Stanford were in on him, but he signed with Kentucky and offensive line coach Eric Wolford coming out of Michigan.

In 2025, he played in four games, taking a redshirt season. ProFootballFocus credits him with 18 offensive snaps.

When Wolford was hired by LSU, Strey became a natural target.

THE FIT

Strey is a projected tackle, and LSU needed them. Early on, the additions of JaKolby Jones and Ja’Quon Sprinkle looked like interior adds. Same for William Satterwhite from Tennessee. Strey was the first addition that really looked like a tackle.

Later, Sean Thompkins from Baylor and Devin Harper from Ole Miss were added from. Both have tackle experience but can also play guard. The addition of Jordan Seaton locked down the left tackle spot for 2025, and Weston Davis is back to likely handle right tackle.

Seaton will be off to the NFL after this season, and Davis needs competition.

Strey immediately adds depth at tackle which LSU desperately needs. Bryston Martinez projects to the outside as an incoming freshman

HUNT’S PROJECTION

Strey, to me, is a tackle of the future. I think the likelihood is that Seaton mans left tackle this fall, and Davis, Harper and Thompkins fight for the right spot.

Strey and Martinez enter that battle next spring for one of the two spots as Seaton moves on. All of these options have great potential, but they’re unproven.

Strey’s height and length are ideal, and Wolford thinks enough of him to bring him two separate places, one after seeing him play in actual games at Kentucky.

I just believe LSU is going to get significantly better play in the trenches under this staff based on scheme and development. I don’t see how it could get much worse.

Strey may not fit into the 2026 plans, though he could, but he’s got four years of eligibility left to make an impact.