Jon Hale

@JonHale_CJ

LEXINGTON, Ky. – UK head coach Mark Stoops is still uncertain if quarterback Drew Barker will be available for the Wildcats’ game against South Carolina, but Barker remains the Wildcats’ No. 1 quarterback.

“We'll see how the week goes on. I'm in no position to talk about that right now,” Stoops said Monday. “He had an MRI. He's gonna consult with our doctors and some specialists, and we'll get to the bottom of it and see what's best for him.”

Later Monday on his weekly radio show, Stoops said it would take a "miraculous recovery" for Barker to be back at practice Wednesday and ready to start the game against South Carolina.

Stoops said Barker had been dealing with “a few issues” with his back during the summer, and while a hit on the first series of a 62-42 win over New Mexico State forced him to the sideline some of the issue may be “chronic.”

“He's had some issues that were lingering, so it's not just one hit,” Stoops said. “So if you look at the hit it doesn't look anything too much, but I think you put that and compound it on some of the back problems that he's had, even going back to last week at Florida.”

Junior quarterback Stephen Johnson will likely play against South Carolina regardless of Barker’s health, Stoops said, but he decided to list Barker as the starter on the depth chart “for a reason.”

Barker has completed 18 of 36 passes for 334 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions in three games this season. Almost all his production came in the first half of the season opener against Southern Mississippi. He is 7-for-17 for 47 yards and four interceptions since.

Johnson has completed 18 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns in two games. He also has netted 60 rushing yards on 17 carries. In relief of Barker against New Mexico State, Johnson completed 17 of 22 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns.

Stoops would not speculate on his decision-making process about the starting quarterback if Barker returns to full health and Johnson continues to play well.

“It's hard to talk about hypotheticals right now,” Stoops said. “I have no idea how healthy Drew's gonna be and what he's gonna look like this week. I was just asked if I anticipate Stephen playing and the answer is yes, I do. To what extent, I don't know.”

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Johnson gained 51 yards on 10 carries against New Mexico State and adds an extra dimension to the offense with his running ability, especially if Barker is limited moving forward by his back problems.

“There's no doubt it helps,” Stoops said. “Even if it's just somebody on the backside just lingering around a little more, then you can get a few more yards sometimes.”

Stoops does not expect Kentucky’s offense to change dramatically based on which quarterback is in the game.

He did acknowledge that the coaches would probably call fewer quarterback runs to help accommodate Barker’s back, but otherwise what parts of the offense would be featured each will mostly depend on the opposing defense.

UK offensive coordinator Eddie Gran expressed full confidence in Johnson’s ability to run the entire offense after the New Mexico State win.

“Our second-team guy has got to be able to run our offense,” Gran said. “Everything that we’re asking Drew to do he can do.”

With Barker hurt, Stoops did instruct Gran to remove Johnson’s option to run late in the game against New Mexico State.

Johnson, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 183 pounds on the roster, was met by several hard hits around the goal line against New Mexico State and appeared to be taken down by a horse-collar tackle at one point in the second quarter but officials declined to throw a flag on the play – “I’m sure it was a legal play, though,” Stoops said with a sarcastic smile Monday. “I don’t even have to send it in (to the league).”

With Barker’s status uncertain, Stoops admitted the staff has to be aware of the need for Johnson to protect his body.

“But we have to play it,” Stoops said. “We have to win, we have to play. We have to do whatever gives us the best opportunity to win football games. … Ever heard the saying scared money never wins? So same thing here.”

Cincinnati transfer Luke Wright – a walk-on who was granted immediately eligibility after following Gran and quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw from Cincinnati to UK – made his debut late in the win as the Wildcats’ No. 3 quarterback. Freshman quarterback Gunnar Hoak will also receive reps in practice this week in case he is forced into action, Stoops said.

While the quarterback position faces no shortage of questions heading into the South Carolina game, Stoops and the team at least have the impressive performance by Johnson to build on.

“After that first possession he really settled in and played an exceptional game, really,” Stoops said. “He made good decisions. He was very poised. He was accurate on the deep ball.”

Email Jon Hale atjahale@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter@JonHale_CJ.