Kentucky Football: Terry Wilson transferring officially ends his Kentucky era

Terry Wilson leaving Kentucky football in good hands with a strong legacy.

Kentucky Football received official word Monday evening from Senior quarterback Terry Wilson of his intent to enter the transfer portal. The news shouldn’t come as a shock to Kentucky fans, the writing was on the wall after Kentucky’s Gator Bowl victory.

With players announcing Sunday and Monday whether they were coming back or moving on to the NFL or other opportunities, Wilson’s fate was confirmed.

With Wilson gone Kentucky fans are sure to witness an intense quarterback battle next spring and summer between Beau Allen, and Joey Gatewood.

With the hiring of new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, it’s apparent that Mark Stoops plans to take the offense into a more modern era. With Coen having one foot in the door in Lexington, it’s obvious Kentucky will rely heavily on the passing game using it’s stable of running backs to open up the passing game with a more pro-style quarterback. Coen is with the Los Angeles Rams and will continue coaching through the playoffs.

Will it be Allen or Gatewood? That is still to be determined in the spring and summer, but it was obvious there was no room for Wilson in an already crowded quarterback room.

Kentucky also inked Sommerset quarterback Kaiya Sheron with the early signing period last month. He is a pro-style quarterback who threw for 5,003 yards. With Allen and Gatewood already in the fold it would seem likely Sheron will redshirt.

It’s probably safe to assume that Wilson leaving the program was a move best for all involved. Rarely when a euphemism like that is used is it actually true, it’s usually just said to soften what might be an intense situation. In this particular scenario, I believe it to hold true.

He could return to Kentucky next year for another season, but it’s no guarantee he would win the starting job. Passing hasn’t been Wilson’s bread and butter, and with all signs pointing towards a more pass-heavy offense, it just makes sense for Wilson to move on.

There is no doubt Wilson had one of the more interesting careers for a college football player. Originally starting out with the University of Oregon, then transferring to Garden City Junior College ultimately ending up at Kentucky. A move to another school would make this Wilson’s fourth stop on his college carnival ride.

Wilson was a winner from the day he took his first snap behind center for Kentucky. What Wilson has been able to do is nothing short of miraculous… especially for a quarterback at Kentucky.

His legacy will forever be in the same breath as beating Florida for the first time in a thousand years in the swamp. Beating Tennesee in Neyland Stadium, a Citrus Bowl trophy with a 10-3 record. Wilson is one of only two quarterbacks to win in Knoxville, and Gainesville in Kentucky history. Wilson also leaves his name in the record book as the only quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000.

What’s next for Wilson? That remains to be seen. Could the Tulsa native return back home to Oklahoma to another Division-1 school in a power 5? I think a very likely scenario is that Wilson ends up transferring to the University of Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes had a plethora of issues at the quarterback position this season with injuries and Wilson could step right in.

With all the injuries at Tulsa depending on who may or may not come back next season, it’s very likely if Wilson reaches out Tulsa could find a scholarship for him. Wilson could stand to put up some bigger numbers at a smaller Division 1 school out of the power 5’s.

Tulsa being in the American Athletic Conference would be a much slower pace than the Southeastern Conference. Wilson would have the potential at a place like Tulsa to really turn some heads and have NFL scouts take a second look.

Wilson may not have put up the stats to have Kentucky fans demanding a statue of him outside Kroger Field, but he was able to be a part of some of the most special moments in recent Kentucky Football history, and for that Wildcat fans owe Wilson a nod of the cap.