Can Stoops Make Kentucky Wildcats Competitive in SEC?
Offense
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Jalen Whitlow has transferred from Kentucky, leaving Maxwell Smith as the only quarterback who saw significant action last year. He was decent when he was in, throwing for 9 touchdowns and only 1 interception to go along with 1,276 yards on only 183 attempts, but he may not be back after having off-season surgery on his throwing shoulder. That leaves a competition to fill the position among sophomore Patrick Towles, redshirt freshman Reese Phillips, and true freshman Drew Barker. Towles was 4-star on Rivals, is entering his third year with Kentucky, and at 6’5 and 230 pounds, he has all the physical tools and the most experience of any quarterback to play the position in addition to running a 4.7-40. However, Barker was also a 4-star on Rivals.com and might have a little bit more accuracy, which is crucial to the air raid offense. Phillips shouldn’t be counted out either. Whomever Stoops names as the starter, he’ll hope to stick with that person the entire year. There’s a lot of potential at the position, but somebody’s going to have to step up.
The quarterback, though, will have a lot of weapons to play with coming back, which is good news for Stoops and Brown. Javess Blue, Ryan Timmons, and Jeff Badet, the three leading receivers from last year, are back, and expected Senior Steven Borden to make some
Nov 23, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Javess Blue (8) runs the ball in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
noise as he steps into the starting role at tight end. The Wildcats also have some incoming talent at receiver that could make an immediate impact, including physical freak Blake Bone, who is 6’5, and two speedsters in Thaddeus Snodgrass and T.V. Williams. Sophomore running back Jojo Kemp should have a bigger impact in the offense this year, especially with Raymond Sanders gone, and Nebraska transfer Braylon Heard and freshman Josh Clemons will also see some action. Newcomers Mikel Horton and Stanley Williams are 4-stars on Rivals who could also contribute quickly to the running game.
Up front, the offensive line returns four starters: senior left tackle Darrian Miller, left guard Zach West, center Jon Toth and right tackle Jordan Swindle. This recruiting class also added four linemen, including Rivals 4-star Nick Richardson, so there should be some depth at this position.
The offense has plenty of returning talent and some standout newcomers to be very entertaining this year, so the only question that needs to be solved is at quarterback. That should be fixed by mid-August, and there’s no reason that this can’t be a very good unit.