Kentucky football quarterback Drew Barker to transfer

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky quarterback Drew Barker, who was believed to be the favorite to win the starting job in spring practice, is transferring.

Barker, who already graduated from Kentucky, will be able to play immediately at another FBS program as a graduate transfer.

"One of the greatest accomplishments of my life was receiving my degree from the University of Kentucky," Barker wrote in a note posted to Twitter. "That is something that I will always take pride in and cherish for the rest of my life. With that being said, I will be exercising the the graduate transfer option and finishing my Master's degree and playing my fifth year at another university.

"I'd like to thank the coaches, strength staff, medical staff and nutritionists for all of the countless hours you all have put into making me and my teammates better men. To my teammates, I'd like to thank you for the countless memories we have made together. Every single one of you, past or present, holds a special place in my heart and I will always be here if you all ever need anything.

"Football has taken me places that I have never dreamed of and I'm excited to see where it takes me next!"

Barker started the first three games of the 2016 season before being sidelined with a season-ending back injury. While he was hurt, Stephen Johnson thrived as UK's starting quarterback, eventually leading the Wildcats' to 14 wins across two seasons. Barker returned to the field this fall but saw only backup snaps in four games, including last week's Music City Bowl.

Barker looked rusty in those limited chances on the field – he completed 4 of 7 passes for 49 yards on the season – but throughout bowl practices UK coaches remained high on his potential to regain his starting job in 2018.

"He was out, but it wasn’t like he was not playing," UK quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw said. "He was out like couldn’t do anything, so it’s tough to come back from that and he did. He’s come back from it, and he’s really worked himself into a position right now where he’s ready to go play and go execute."

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Despite UK coach Mark Stoops' frequent praise for Barker, the staff did sign former Oregon quarterback Terry Wilson, the No. 1 junior-college quarterback in the class of 2018 according to ESPN, to compete for the job in spring practice.

Stoops was quick to caution Wilson would not be handed the starting job though.

"I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times: I’m extremely excited about Drew and getting the opportunity to get back in there," Stoops said on signing day in December. "The kid went through a major injury, left football for a year. So when he’s come back and just had practice opportunity, limited reps in the games. Drew’s looked very, very impressive through this bowl practice, and I expect big things from him."

The transfer marks the end of a UK career that was heavy on headlines and light on on-field contributions for Barker.

Once believed to be the quarterback Stoops' rebuilding effort would be centered on, Barker signed with UK as the crown jewel of its 2014 recruiting class, the highest-rated class in program history. After graduating from Conner High School a semester early to enroll at UK, Barker was featured prominently in the program's annual Super Bowl commercial before even playing a game.

Barker's career hit a rocky patch in his first season at UK with two embarrassing off-field incidents during his redshirt season. He was one of four players suspended in September 2014 for a game for sparking a campus lockdown after shooting airsoft pellet guns near a dormitory. Three of those same players, including Barker, were involved in a bar fight with Eastern Kentucky players in Richmond in January 2015.

After losing the competition to start in preseason camp in 2015, Barker eventually took over the No. 1 job from Patrick Towles for the final two games of the season, leading Towles and backup Reese Phillips to transfer in search of playing time.

Barker started the 2016 season on an individual high note, throwing for 323 yards and four touchdowns in the season opener, but was at the helm of the offense as Southern Miss rallied from a 25-point deficit for a 44-35 win in that game. Barker's back trouble began in the second half of the Southern Miss collapse and lingered into a blowout loss at Florida the next week before it ended his season after the first drive of a Week 3 game against New Mexico State.

Barker finishes his UK career having completed 57 of 113 passes for 747 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games, including five starts.

With Barker gone, Wilson becomes the favorite to win UK's starting job in 2018. Sophomore Gunnar Hoak, who has yet to make his UK debut and served as the No. 3 quarterback this season, represents his main competition. Redshirt freshmen Danny Clark and Walker Wood could add additional depth.

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