GET TO KNOW THE REESE’S SENIOR BOWL’S TOP 2022 PROSPECTS

 

Beyond X's and O's with Darian Kinnard, Kentucky OL

 

What sports did you play in high school?

• “I played football and did track. I threw shot put and discus.”

What is your biggest motivator?

• “My mother - my family.”

What is your day-to-day routine?

• “It's chill, honestly. I wake up in the morning and take my mom to work most days. Then I get to the facility and get treatment and then go to class. After class, I get home and take the dogs out and then go back to the facility for practice and get more treatment.”

What is your pregame attire?

• “I usually just wear what the teams give us. They give us sweatsuits and stuff like that for pregame.”

What is your favorite college football memory?

• “I’d say my best memory was my freshman year when we beat Florida down in the Swamp. That atmosphere was absolutely ridiculous considering I just got out of high school the year before and then on the big stage. Being able to be a part of that performance was awesome.”

What are you most looking forward to the rest of the season?

• “I’m just looking forward to our next performance. Trying to go in and get a win and end the season off on the right foot.”

Who is a DL in the NFL you want to go head-to-head with and beat?

• “I’d have to say Aaron Donald.”

Who is the best player you have ever played with?

• “Josh Allen for sure.”

Is there an NFL player that you try to model your game after?

• “I wouldn’t say model but learn from a lot – I’d have to say Joe Thomas and Tyron Smith.”

What do you look for when watching tape on the opposing team?

• “Usually as a group we watch scheme and rotational stuff. Then by myself, I just try to pick out certain tells with D-ends. Especially with D-linemen, I try to see what helps give away what they’re doing – it really just depends on what we’re looking at.

Can you tell me a little bit about why you decided to stay in Lexington for another year?

• “I feel like I wasn’t being as sought after as I would’ve liked to be, I guess. After talking to coaches I knew I could’ve gone easily, and made a team somewhere, but I didn’t want to be just another guy or another name on the list. I wanted to be the top name on the list somewhere. I knew that would take another year, and I’ve been draft stocked to do that. I knew coming back would be beneficial. On top of that, we had a new offensive coordinator and transfer guys so I knew this year was going to be special.”

Is there an area in your game you want to improve on the rest of this season?

• “I’d say my biggest area of improvement is my past protection. I mean I feel confident with it, and I am confident in my athletic ability to cover it well. I think the more snaps I take, the better.”

If you could bring one teammate to the NFL with you, who would it be?

• “I’d say Austin Dotson. I feel like he is a brother of mine. We are pretty tight, and our personalities are the same. We are different in terms of how we grew up and our background. He is a country dude, but in terms of mentality we are pretty similar. Just being able to spend a lot of time together is what makes our relationship special.”

You’re stuck on a deserted island with three teammates – who are they?

• “I would pick Austin Dotson. He is country as hell so I know he knows how to survive wherever we are. The other one would probably be Luke Fortner – he is a very smart guy, he is our center. He is an engineer so he would be very valuable to our team in that aspect. Lastly, I would probably say Josh Paschal because if we need to hunt, he is an athletic freak so he would be very helpful in that aspect, too.”