Kentucky Wildcats Football: Preparing for another QB battle

Kentucky fans should not be strangers to quarterback controversies, as the Wildcats have had to endure one annually for what seems like decades. Not since Andre Woodson lined up under center has the team known their starter from the end of one season to the next and this year should be no exception. As fans prepare for the offseason, spring practices, and camp, it appears that the team will have as many contenders this year as we have ever seen before. And while everyone may be preparing themselves for a muddled mess, things may ultimately be simpler than we feel like they will be right now. But for the time being, it appears to be a five man race for the job.

Maxwell Smith – JR
We all love Smith, I think that’s pretty safe to say. The young man was thrown to the fire as a true freshman and cut his teeth against the SEC slate of Kentucky’s schedule. Untimely and unfortunate injuries have plagued him in every year of his career at UK and he clearly isn’t the same quarterback that he was prior to those injuries. While his knowledge of the offense and the SEC is valuable, his physical limitations make him a long shot to win the starting position.

Jalen Whitlow – JR
Similar to Smith, Whitlow was thrust into playing as a true freshman before he was probably ready. Originally recruited as an “athlete,” Whitlow’s ascension to the starting quarterback job this season surprised many, but he has shown glimpses of why the coaching staff was able to stand behind him with confidence. After struggling throughout the 2013 season, Whitlow would also likely be a long shot to win the full time starting quarterback job this offseason. He may be used as a change of pace player, in the wildcat package, or he may even change positions, but significant improvements in his game would need to be made for him to be in contention as the starter.

Patrick Towles – SO
Once hailed by many (myself included) as the future of the program, Towles struggled through injuries as a true freshman before sitting out last season with a redshirt that he should have received in 2012. Towles is intriguing in this year’s competition because he is as much of a wildcard as any freshman or transfer would be. He has NFL size and abilities, but no one is sure what kind of player he can be. While he has all the talent you could ask for, the staff’s decision to prepare Reese Phillips ahead of him this season isn’t exactly a vote of confidence. Towles is certainly still in the picture, but he now appears to be hanging on by a thread.

Reese Phillips – RFR
Well, I don’t think anyone would have predicted things would be where they are right now a year ago. Phillips was largely an afterthought in the 2012 class as one of the few holdovers from the previous staff. Maybe the lower expectations allowed Phillips to develop devoid of pressure, but he ultimately became the team’s backup by the end of the season. Phillips will now go into the offseason as the unofficial favorite to win the starting job by this fall. If e can hold off his competition that is.

Drew Barker – FR
Kentucky doesn’t get a lot of Army All-Americans, so Barker’s arrival in Lexington is highly anticipated. He has spent the last year racking up accolades and praise from pretty much every one who evaluates high school players and has become one of the most accomplished signees in Kentucky football history. While that’s all great, it’s important to remember that Barker will only be a true freshman when fall arrives. While his talent and accolades are impressive, very, very few true freshman quarterbacks have ever been successful in the SEC. Barker has the potential to be special and will absolutely be in the mix, but anointing him the starter is premature even if he may be the most naturally talented player at the position.

With so much time between now and the start of the season anything can happen. Look for Kentucky’s QB competition to be whittled down a little throughout the year but it may be wishful thinking to expect a starter to emerge prior to camp this summer.