Mark Stoops names Terry Wilson Kentucky football's starting quarterback

Jon Hale | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Kentucky Football | Mark Stoops excited about Terry Wilson as UK's QB UK coach Mark Stoops breaks down his decision to name Terry Wilson the starting quarterback.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky football has a starting quarterback.

Junior-college transfer Terry Wilson will start the season opener against Central Michigan, UK coach Mark Stoops announced Monday.

"I feel like we have a great quarterback room," Stoops said. "With the other quarterbacks, with Gunnar (Hoak) and Danny (Clark) in particular, they've put up a great fight and they've done a lot of things in a lot of ways to win the job as well. Ultimately with all the things that we looked at we decided on Terry, and we're excited about Terry and what he's going to do this week."

Asked what specifically won Wilson the job, Stoops declined to elaborate, saying he did not want to denigrate any of his other quarterbacks but acknowledged targets, accuracy, decision making, yards and leadership were all factors considered.

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Wilson, an Oklahoma native who began his college career at Oregon, signed with Kentucky in December from Garden City (Kansas) Community College.

ESPN ranked him as the No. 1 junior-college quarterback and the No. 5 junior-college prospect at any position in the class. After transferring from Oregon, where he redshirted in 2016 to Garden City, Wilson won the Jayhawk Conference Offensive Player of the Year award last season. He completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 2,133 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while rushing for 518 yards and five touchdowns on 126 carries.

“He’s a dynamic guy but we haven’t seen him full go because he has not been live (contact) since he’s been here,” Stoops said. “So, kind of interested to see how the year goes, myself. See what he can kick that thing out to and how fast he can run when it’s in the open field, because he’s definitely an explosive guy.

“But it’s not about that. It wasn’t about just the legs. That’s always a piece of it, but it’s about operating within the offense and you’ve heard me talk for a year now about being improved and trying to build on the passing game, as well.”

Hoak, who has been on campus for two full seasons and three spring practices but has not played, was considered Wilson’s primary competition. A more traditional pocket passer, Hoak was thought to have a greater hold on the playbook thanks to his experience in the offense even if he did not boast the athleticism or arm strength of Wilson.

Since no quarterback on the roster has played in an FBS game, many have speculated Stoops will try to get Wilson and Hoak snaps in the opener.

“I'd like both guys to play,” Stoops said. “I think both guys have earned the right to get the opportunity to play, but you understand and I understand and they understand that sometimes that's not a possibility.”

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Even if Hoak is able to make his debut against Central Michigan or at some other point in the first month, Stoops was clear there is no quarterback committee.

“I've also been very loyal to the starting quarterbacks here,” Stoops said. “They have not been on a short leash, and we've been very supportive of that until it gets to a point where we absolutely have to make a change or take another look. So, I want to be loyal to the starting quarterback and give him every opportunity and not have him looking over his shoulder as well.”

In other depth chart news, Stoops named senior Miles Butler, a former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship earlier this month, the starting kicker but said freshman Chance Poore will continue to prepare to play for long field goal opportunities.

College football’s new redshirt rule would allow Poore to appear in four games before losing a year of eligibility.

“Should we need a game-winner, and possibly even to end a half, a long kick, we could use Chance at that point,” Stoops said. “And he could keep on working because he’s looked impressive during camp as well with all field goals and PATs.”

Freshman wide receivers Akeem Hayes and Allen Dailey, inside linebackers DeAndre Square and Chris Oats and offensive tackle Darian Kinnard will all play early, Stoops said. Nose guard Marquan McCall, tight ends Keaton Upshaw and Brenden Bates are other freshmen who will prepare to play if needed.

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You can read the full depth chart below:

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

3 – Terry Wilson (6-3, 205, So.)

12 – Gunnar Hoak (6-4, 206, So.)

13 – Danny Clark (6-2, 232, RFr.)

RUNNING BACK

26 – Benny Snell Jr. (5-11, 223, Jr.)

22 – Sihiem King (5-9, 172, Sr.)

or 10 – A.J. Rose (6-1, 208, So.)

WIDE RECEIVER (X)

11 – Tavin Richardson (6-3, 207, Jr.)

82 – Josh Ali (6-0, 181, So.)

or 13 -- Zy'Aire Hughes (6-1,182, So.)

WIDE RECEIVER (Y)

33 – David Bouvier (5-9, 168, Sr.)

18 – Clevan Thomas (5-11, 207, So.)

WIDE RECEIVER (F)

1 – Lynn Bowden Jr. (6-1, 195, So.)

19 – Akeem Hayes (5-8, 153, Fr.)

WIDE RECEIVER (Z)

2 – Dorian Baker (6-3, 205, Sr.)

81 – Isaiah Epps (6-2, 181, So.)

or 86 – Allen Dailey (6-3, 195, Fr.)

TIGHT END

87 – C.J. Conrad (6-5, 252, Sr.)

83 – Justin Rigg (6-6, 257, Jr.)

88 – Keaton Upshaw (6-5, 234, Fr.)

or 80 – Brendan Bates (6-4, 240, Fr.)

LEFT TACKLE

66 – Naasir Watkins (6-5, 318, RFr.)

or 72 – E.J. Price (6-6, 311, So.)

LEFT GUARD

71 – Logan Stenberg (6-6, 320, Jr.)

79 – Luke Fortner (6-6, 293, So.)

CENTER

52 – Drake Jackson (6-2, 290, So.)

77 – Mason Wolfe (6-6, 315, So.)

RIGHT GUARD

65 – Bunchy Stallings (6-3, 305, Sr.)

61 – Austin Dotson (6-6, 322, RFr.)

RIGHT TACKLE

64 – George Asafo-Adjei (6-5, 315, Sr.)

70 – Darian Kinnard (6-5, 357, Fr.)

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

99 – Adrian Middleton (6-3, 298, Sr.)

92 – Phil Hoskins (6-5, 306, Jr.)

NOSE GUARD

95 – Quinton Bohanna (6-4, 340, So.)

98 – Tymere Dubose (6-5, 315, Sr.)

50 – Marquan McCall (6-3, 368, Fr.)

DEFENSIVE END

90 – T.J. Carter (6-4, 265, Jr.)

60 – Calvin Taylor (6-9, 300, Jr.)

59 – Kordell Looney (6-3, 297, So.)

DEFENSIVE END/OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

41 – Josh Allen (6-5, 260, Sr.)

20 – Kengera Daniel (6-5, 235, Sr.)

58 – Alex King (6-3, 236, RFr.)

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

56 – Kash Daniel (6-1, 242, Jr.)

44 – Jamin Davis (6-4, 224, RFr.)

WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER

34 – Jordan Jones (6-2, 218, Sr.)

43 – DeAndre Square (6-1, 208, Fr.)

or 22 – Chris Oats (6-3, 228, Fr.)

STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER

31 – Jamar “Boogie” Watson (6-3, 234, So.)

15 – Jordan Wright (6-5, 236, RFr.)

NICKELBACK

27 – Mike Edwards (6-0, 201, Sr.)

9 – Davonte Robinson (6-2, 200, So.)

3 – Jordan Griffin (6-0, 194, Jr.)

CORNERBACK

29 – Derrick Baity (6-3, 188, Sr.)

26 – Michael Nesbitt (6-0, 196, RFr.)

STRONG SAFETY

27 – Mike Edwards (6-0, 201, Sr.)

3 – Jordan Griffin (6-0, 194, Jr.)

23 – Tyrell Ajian (6-0, 187, RFr.)

FREE SAFETY

25 – Darius West (6-0, 210, Sr.)

9 – Davonte Robinson (6-2, 200, So.)

29 – Yusuf Corker (6-0, 185, RFr.)

CORNERBACK

6 – Lonnie Johnson (6-3, 206, Sr.)

or 21 – Chris Westry (6-4, 197, Sr.)

SPECIALISTS

KICKER

95 – Miles Butler (5-9, 165, Sr.)

12 – Chance Poore (6-2, 210, Fr.)

PUNTER

93 – Max Duffy (6-1, 194, So.)

86 – Grant McKinniss (6-1, 200, Jr.)

Long Snapper

42 – Tristan Yeomans (Punts, 6-2, 208, Sr.)

53 – Blake Best (PATs, 6-1, 220, Jr.)

Punt Return

33 – David Bouvier (5-9, 168, Sr.)

17 – Mike Edwards (6-1, 201, Sr.)

1 – Lynn Bowden Jr. (6-1, 195, So.)

Kickoff Return

1 – Lynn Bowden Jr. (6-1, 195, So.)

22 – Sihiem King (5-9, 172, Sr.)

Holder

42 – Tristan Yeomans (6-2, 208, Sr.)

86 – Grant McKinniss (6-1, 200, Jr.)

Jon Hale: jahale@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @JonHale_CJ. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jonh.