The Kentucky football program will have to replace yet another key piece of its staff this offseason.

Coming off an 8-5 season and a 37-30 victory in the Belk Bowl, sources tell KSR’s Ryan Lemond that UK defensive line coach Derrick LeBlanc is set to leave the program and take a similar position at Arkansas.

As feared, I just heard that @UKFootball defensive line coach Derrick LeBlanc is in fact leaving UK to take a similar position at @RazorbackFB #BBN — Ryan Lemond (@ryanlemond) January 3, 2020

Sources tell KSR that LeBlanc took multiple calls last offseason regarding various coaching opportunities and nearly left then.

At Kentucky, LeBlanc’s work on the defensive line helped lead Kentucky to the third-ranked scoring defense (18.4 points per game) in the nation, fifth in total defense (321.6 yards per game) and 11th in rushing defense (148.9 yards per game). In 2018, Kentucky was second in scoring defense (16.8 points per game), fourth in total defense (337.9 yards per game) and eighth in rushing defense (151.6 yards per game). In 2017, Kentucky was eighth in scoring defense (28.2 points per game), 12th in total defense (426.9 yards per game) and 10th in rushing defense (175.3 yards per game).

LeBlanc joins former special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach Dean Hood, who was hired as Murray State’s head coach back in December, as staff departures this offseason.

——–UPDATE——–

A University of Kentucky spokesperson has since confirmed KSR’s report that LeBlanc is set to leave the program for Arkansas.