By Joshua Huff

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Surely few UK football fans noticed a new face lined up with the offensive line on Saturday against Ohio.

Freshman offensive guard Cole Mosier lined up at the right guard position in place of regular starter junior Zach West. West is out of the lineup after a freak injury caused some nerve damage in his neck.

“(West) is bothered by that,” head coach Mark Stoops said. “There’s some fluid around it. He will not be cleared to play until he gets full range and strength. They have no idea when that will be.”

In the meantime, Mosier will help anchor an offensive line that has helped the Cats rush for an impressive 466 yards in just two games and yielded just five sacks.

Though West will be missed, especially with an upcoming game against Southeastern Conference rival Florida on the horizon; Mosier and the rest of the line will be trying to contain a Gator defense that gave up only 125 yards to Eastern Michigan. The Gators chalked up three sacks against the Eagles, led by redshirt senior Neiron Ball, who had two.

That may be a tall task for the freshman and company, considering the line struggled against a physical Ohio defense.

“(Ohio was) blitzing and changing things up,” Stoops said. “Some of the younger guys, Kyle Meadows, in particular, struggled a bit. That’s just from a lack of experience. So we have to continue to work him in there more.”

The Cats will have to rely on veterans such as senior left tackle Darrian Miller, sophomore center Jon Toth and junior right tackle Jordan Swindle, to balance out the inexperienced faces at the guard positions. The experience will be vital if UK has any chance of moving the ball against a ferocious Gator defense.

“They’re very tough.” Stoops said of Florida’s defense. “They’re very aggressive. Vernon Hargreaves on the corner is exceptional. Dante Fowler, defensive end. They’ve got some good guys and a good scheme. They’re well-coached.”

If the Cats look to play a factor within the SEC, the big boys who protect Patrick Towles and open the holes for the running backs will need to show that they belong. And if the saying about a unit being as strong as its weakest — or in this case, most inexperienced – link is true, then Mosier’s play will be important against an athletic Florida front seven.

“We all know we’re in for a higher level of competition,” Stoops said. “And we’re excited about that. The players and coaches will be excited. We’ll see where we’re at this week.”