With signing day in the rearview mirror, The University of Kentucky football team will shift its focus to spring practice and trying to fill out the depth chart. I’ll be breaking down each position group to see who’s in consideration for playing time and what each player brings to the table.
I’ll start this series of posts by taking a look at the Quarterback position. There’s a lot more to being the “field general” than throwing and running the ball. Footwork, timing with receivers, carrying out play fakes, throwing motion, and breaking down defenses are just a few of the areas a Quarterback needs to be able to excel for his team to be successful. Kentucky heads into the offseason with a three-headed race for the starting Quarterback position, and arguably has more natural talent at the position than at any time in the past few years.
Kentucky has seen a sharp decline in QB play since Andre Woodson graduated following the 2007 season, and most of that can be attributed to expected starter Curtis Pulley’s departure from the team just prior to the first game of the 2008 season. Mike Hartline performed admirably a through a tough 2010 campaign and was having a solid year before sustaining an injury against South Carolina. Statistically, this was his best outing to date, and most fans felt as though Kentucky would have probably won the game. Hartline will enter spring practice as the most experienced QB on the roster, but will have to fend off two of the most heralded recruits Kentucky has brought to Lexington in recent memory. Hartline may not have the physical tools Newton or Mossakowski posses, but he has moxie which can be just as important. Many people forget that Hartline was in a heated competition with Pulley before his dismissal, so he can definitely play. What he lacks in arm strength, he makes up for in experience, knowledge of the offense, and decision making. Counting him out of the QB competition would be extremely premature, and he could be considered the favorite to win the job if he is fully recovered from his injury.
Morgan Newton came to Lexington as a Parade All-American dual threat QB and Indiana’s Mr. Football. He was expected to red-shirt while getting a firmer grasp on the responsibilities of an SEC signal caller, but an injury to starter Mike Hartline thrust him onto the big stage during one of the most brutal stretches of scheduling Kentucky has seen in quite some time. Newton played extremely well considering the circumstances, and played “not to lose the game,” which is absolutely acceptable for a true freshman. After pulling out two of the most impressive road wins in the last couple of years against Georgia and Auburn, he will have a leg up on fellow class-mate Mossakowski heading into spring practice. Newton is more athletic than the other two Quarterbacks on the current roster, but he’s no Pat White. Newton’s biggest hurdle to overcome will be gaining the confidence of the coaching staff, which will allow them to open up the playbook and will also allow Newton to showcase the talents that made him such a high profile recruit just last year.
Ryan Mossakowski will bring the type of big time arm that UK hasn’t seen since Jared Lorenzon was wearing the blue #22. Rivals recruiting website listed Mossakowski’s arm as the second strongest in his class, after USC freshman starter Matt Barkley, before Mossakowski suffered a torn labrum while still in high school. Medical reports have been positive and it looks like Mossakowski will finally be cleared for spring practice. He’ll start out behind Newton and Hartline due to their on-field experience, but I would certainly think he’ll have a fair shot at the starting job. His skill set is tailor-made for the Kentucky pro-style offense, but he’s not as quick on his feet as Newton, so with Kentucky bringing back only one full-time starter along the offensive line, Newton or Hartline might provide the best option to win early. Regardless, I can’t see Mossakowski on the sidelines for long.
Recruit Tyler Brause will have a shot to play Quarterback, but his skill set is going to pay bigger dividends at a position where his athleticism can be featured. At 6’4 with a 4.6 forty-yard dash, he could end up at tight end, linebacker, or even wide receiver. He may follow the path laid out by Deaunte Mason, redshirting as a reserve QB his freshman year, then being moved to a different position during his first spring practice.
Who starts the 2010 season is a mystery, and it likely won’t be solved until camp is over this fall. Regardless of who gets the nod, Kentucky should be in good shape at the Quarterback position, as they return experience, athleticism, and talent for next season.
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