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Kentucky Football: Ranking the top 5 Wildcat quarterbacks of all time

By Frank Spencer

Sep 5, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; A general view of Commonwealth Stadium before the game against the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns. Kentucky defeated Louisiana Lafayette 40-33. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; A general view of Commonwealth Stadium before the game against the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns. Kentucky defeated Louisiana Lafayette 40-33. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. Vito “Babe” Parilli (1949-1951)

Babe Parilli was one of the all time great players at Kentucky. He played under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant at Kentucky from 1949-1951. Parilli compiled a career yardage count of 4,351 along with 50 touchdowns. In a time when throwing the ball looked different, Parilli excelled. Spread offenses and highly complex passing reads had yet been a thing. His stats came from pitch and catch football. Parilli holds two All-American honors for the 1950 and 1951 seasons. His touchdown total is pretty impressive considering he only threw the ball 592 times in his three year career.  Parilli’s skills can be seen at 1:20 on the video above. Watch as he hurls a pass down to the six hardline, then punches it in with a quick strike.

Parilli finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1950 and fourth in 1951. In 1950, Parilli led Kentucky to an 11-1 record and top five national ranking. That team went on to defeat the top ranked, undefeated Oklahoma Sooners in the 1950 Sugar Bowl. He went on to be drafted in the first round with the fourth overall pick to the Green Bay Packers in the 1952 NFL Draft.

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