Terry Wilson got loose along the sideline for a 32-yard scoring run Saturday. (SEC Photo)
All the love Kentucky coaches, players and fans showed for coach John Schlarman before, after and during Saturday’s 38-35 win over Vanderbilt to honor his passing Wednesday night made it easy to overlook just how well Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson played.
Wilson certainly did more than his share to make sure Schlarman’s memory was honored with a win. He played like the 2018 Terry Wilson that led UK to a 10-3 record before he was injured in game two in 2019 and missed the rest of the season.
He had also missed UK’s last game, a loss to Georgia, with a wrist injury and coach Mark Stoops had openly talked about not being afraid to play quarterbacks Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen this week.
But Wilson led UK on scoring drives on its first five possessions. He threw touchdown passes to tight ends Justin Rigg and Keaton Upshaw. He ran for a 32-yard score and ran 27 yards to convert a third-and-26.
Wilson finished the game 13 for 15 passing for 110 yards and two scores and ran for 83 yards and one score on seven attempts. More importantly, he made decisive decisions and showed the speed that had seemed to be missing the first five games he played this season.
I asked coach Mark Stoops if that was the 2018 Terry Wilson back in action today.
“I agree with you. This is the terry I expect to play each week,” Stoops said. “A lot has to do with the people around him. I thought he played very well and he was very efficient.”
He made two bad throws — when he under threw running back A.J. Rose on what would have been a touchdown pass — but other than that he was money all day
“I am proud of him and the way he responded,” Stoops said. “That position is different. There is so much scrutiny and pressure. You have to play well at that position. At times it all comes down on him. There are times it is deserving and times not. But he did not look for an opportunity to run and hide. He took the criticism and coaching and came back. I expect him to do that every week. That’s the standard we need him to play at across the board.”
Wilson said he was limited in the Missouri loss by his injured wrist but once it started getting better he looked to improve on anything to help win games.
“Just locking down and honing in on what I have to do to help the team,” he said.
Did this feel more like the 2018 Terry Wilson that not only led UK to 10 wins but got that historic win at Florida and another victory in the Citrus Bowl?
“I just feel like I was out there playing football, trying to take care of the football, making the right reads, just trying to make plays for the team,” Wilson said.
So it is safe to say this was the 2018 Terry Wilson back?
“It is safe for you to say that,” he smiled and said.
