Terry Wilson (SEC Photo)
Who will Kentucky start at quarterback Saturday against Vanderbilt when it tries to break a two-game losing streak and generate some big plays offensively? Will it be Terry Wilson, who started five games before not playing against Georgia because of a wrist injury? Or will coach Mark Stoops give Joey Gatewood a second straight start even though UK did not score a touchdown in its last game against Georgia when he started?
“As I mentioned last week or the week prior, I’m never going to give up. The person who gives us the best opportunity to win right now is the person we’re going with because we’re here to win games,” Stoops said Monday.
“But there is a balance there. I do want to see and continue to be fair and be right to Terry. If he gives us the best opportunity to win games, he’ll be in there and he did have a good week of practice last week.”
Yet Stoops knows it might be time to think about the 2021 season and beyond when Wilson will not be on the team. That’s why he said both Gatewood and true freshman quarterback Beau Allen “have great upside” and he wants to see them play.
“It’s difficult because, as you see, every possession and every play is so important. That position is unlike others. At other positions we rotate guys in constantly and it’s not an issue because we need to rotate and need to get bodies in there,” Stoops said.
“However, at that position it’s very difficult and it feels like if you’re shuffling guys at that position you’re reaching and the flow of the game is so important. Every possession is so important, we’re in a lot of close games.”
Stoops understands the thought about building for the future since UK is only 2-4 and still has games against Alabama and Florida on the road where it will be a big underdog each game.
“It’s difficult either way but I’m going to go with the guy who gives us the best opportunity to win on this coming Saturday. With that said, sure, I’d love to get Joey some reps and I’d like to see Beau in there as well,” Stoops said.
That’s not only straddling the fence but it sure sounds to me like the decision has already been made that Wilson will be the quarterback when the game starts Saturday.
