SEC Football: Every quarterback group in the conference, ranked

13. Wilson First, Hoak to Follow

Stephen Johnson, last year’s starter and senior, announced his complete retirement from football shortly after the 2017 season. Johnson’s departure left the quarterback spot wide open at Kentucky.

The Wildcats have a head-to-head battle at quarterback between Terry Wilson and Gunnar Hoak. Wilson has an intriguing background. The former 4-star recruit, who was once committed to Nebraska, ended up initially attending the University of Oregon. Then, Wilson left Oregon for a junior college. Now he is back in the FBS with Kentucky.

Gunnar Hoak, on the other hand, has a much more traditional background. Hoak is a sophomore who is fighting to beat out the new hot-shot on campus. Hoak is a slightly bigger quarterback with a more pro-style approach to his game. With a team who will need any form of offense available, Hoak’s limited mobility will make him a less desirable option compared to Wilson.

Look for Wilson to win out the job early in the season. But as the Wildcat offense struggles, Hoak will likely find himself with some real snaps and a chance to prove himself.