Terry Wilson and his mother, Loise Wilson, pose for a picture following Kentucky’s blue/white spring game at Kroger Field on Friday, April 13, 2018 (Photo courtesy of Loise Wilson).

Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson began playing little league football when he was around six years old but it wasn’t until he was nine that he made a passionate connection with the game.

Wilson and his mother, Loise Wilson, had a preseason ritual of watching their favorite sports movies before the first day of practice and the season opener. They always enjoyed the movies and that time together, but it was when the movie Friday Night Lights finally made its way into the rotation that his mother noticed she had a football player.

“We both enjoyed the movie and when I looked at my son’s face I saw big crocodile tears rolling down his cheeks at the end,” said Loise Wilson. “I thought, uh oh, I have a passionate athlete here.”







That passion still burns deep inside the 6-foot-3 dual-threat quarterback from Oklahoma City nicknamed Terry “Touchdown” Wilson. His path from Del City High School to Kentucky had multiple stops along the way, including a commitment to Oregon. Wilson redshirted during his lone season for the Ducks before transferring to Garden City Community College in Kansas, where he totaled 2,133 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Additionally, he tallied 518 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.

Before committing to Kentucky in December, Wilson entertained interest from Florida and Nebraska, two traditionally dominant programs in college football. However, he decided that Kentucky was the place to call home. After watching her son take the field at Kentucky during the blue/white spring game, Loise knows Terry is in the right place.

“Watching my son take the field at Kentucky for the first time was very special. Thinking about all the things he’s had to endure and overcome and then to finally be apart of a program that embraces him like UK is exactly what we hoped for.”

Wilson was an early enrollee at Kentucky for the spring semester and immediately inserted his name into the conversation for the starting quarterback role this fall. He and redshirt sophomore Gunnar Hoak will battle throughout the summer to decide who the Wildcats signal caller will be in 2018. The winner will be tasked with trying to lead the program to its third consecutive Bowl appearance.







Loise admits that she didn’t know much about Kentucky before the recruitment fired up, but she did know that the SEC is strong and the distance from Oklahoma to Kentucky is much closer than Oregon.

“I didn’t know a lot about the program except it is apart of a very strong Southeastern Conference and it was closer to Oklahoma than Oregon. But what I quickly found out is Kentucky has a rich history and an impressive academic record. After talking with and meeting with UK’s coaching staff, I can say I felt encouraged about the opportunity.”

Wilson will certainly get his opportunity to lead and if he does, he is equipped to direct a UK offense that is looking to take a step forward in year three under offensive coordinator Eddie Gran. As for what fans can expect to see from him, they will see a player that is focused and understands what it means to be a leader.

“Fans can expect to see a quarterback that will give his everything to the program. T [Terry] has always been a team player and he understands the role of leadership his position carries. He believes in himself and his ability, and he’ll encourage his teammates at all times.”







Everything about Kentucky matched what Loise and her son were looking for during the recruiting process. She prayed that a program would come along that they would fall in love with and feel comfortable with. It just so happened that Mark Stoops was the guy, someone that she has trust in to lead her son along the journey of becoming a football player and a man.

“I trust Coach Stoops and the Kentucky coaching staff. I knew my son was going to play college football and it’s not always simple science to find the right fit. I hoped for a fit where his growth as a young man would be encouraged and guided, as well as helping to sharpen his craft as a quarterback that could potentially play at the next level.”

Since he arrived at Kentucky, Wilson has made sure that he communicates with his mother every day. No matter how that conversation occurs, whether it is via text, phone call, or FaceTime, there’s always a point to make sure it happens.

Before he takes the field, Loise always has a conversation with her son. Topics range from football, family, music, and fashion. Just anything to get him loose and ready to play the game he loves. Sometimes they talk about great games he has played in the past but she makes sure she doesn’t do all the talking.







“Sometimes I just listen to him because there’s a certain balance he needs, then other times, he listens to me. We talk football a lot but not everything is football before a game. He just needs to start with a blank canvas and then the art is added.”

Wilson’s love for football began with Friday Night Lights and it led him to the Saturday night lights at Kroger Field.

“I have faith in the program,” said Loise Wilson. “I feel like something special is going on in Lexington.”





