Kentucky football's Stephen Johnson played through pain we didn't know

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Stephen Johnson slumped on a crutch Friday as he watched potential successors sling the football.

The former Kentucky quarterback walked the grounds at Kroger Field during the Wildcats' spring game with a bulky brace on his left leg.

Surgery six weeks ago repaired torn PCL and MCL ligaments and a partially shredded hamstring.

He said the injuries occurred against Tennessee — two seasons ago, on Nov. 12, 2016. That's why he didn't start the next week against Austin Peay. But that day he entered off the bench and started the next 15 games, leading Kentucky to one win against Louisville in '16, another versus Tennessee last season and two bowl appearances. He waited until his career was finished to have repairs made to his body.

"There was a lot of pain," Johnson said. "But I mean, it wasn't a problem.

"It is what it is. I think most of the team knew about it, but it's not something I was telling everybody."

Johnson's surgery was performed in Lexington. He is rehabbing under direct supervision of Jim Madaleno, UK director of sports medicine. A UK spokesperson said Madaleno was not available for comment.

More: Strong scrimmages have Danny Clark narrowing gap in Kentucky QB competition

Johnson, the junior-college transfer who grabbed the starting job two games into the 2016 season, became the first Kentucky quarterback to beat both Tennessee and Louisville since at least 1924 (when the Wildcats defeated both the Cards and Vols in the same season). The Wildcats finished 14-10 with him as the primary quarterback.

Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran was direct about Johnson's legacy.

"The toughest kid I've ever coached, and he had the biggest heart," Gran said. And sometimes, Gran said, toughness led to concern because Johnson never asked to be taken out of a game. He also suffered a shoulder injury against Tennessee in 2017. He remained on the field and rushed for the game-winning touchdown.

"That's why I liked being on the field," Gran said. "I could look at him in the eyeballs. Are the eyes in the back of his head or can he look at you straight in the eye and talk to you? He's the toughest kid I've ever coached. Ever."

Forget speed and arm strength and size and pro potential. Does Kentucky have a quarterback that can replace Johnson's leadership, toughness and heart? Kentucky coach Mark Stoops did not name a starter or give hints about a frontrunner Friday night at his postgame press conference.

"When the lights come on and you're in a game situation and the bullets are flying and you're really taking sacks and you're really getting hit, it's important to see how they play in games," Stoops said. "That's why I'm not in any big hurry."

Johnson, keeping his eyes on the field to survey each throw, expressed optimism about the Wildcats' quarterback group.

"We'll see how they do," he said.

There's Terry Wilson, the junior-college transfer who redshirted the 2016 season at Oregon. Johnson lived that route. He spent two seasons at Grambling and another in California at College of the Desert, so he experienced what Wilson is up against walking into a Southeastern Conference locker room already two stops into his college career.

"It's just a mindset," Johnson said. "You've got to come in and show the team that you're ready to work. Going from a junior-college team to major SEC football team, the speed is a lot different. Obviously, Terry has to get adjusted to that.

"And then it's just trying to find your balance of where you are on the team. So I mean, for Terry, it's just showing those guys that you're ready to work and ready to get after it."

Wilson was 10-of-24 passing Friday for a game-high 131 yards. He added 14 yards on the ground and admitted he was nervous for his Kentucky debut.

"Just seeing everybody in the stands, you get a little bit nervous," he said. "But he can't let that affect you, especially at the quarterback position."

More: Mark Stoops: Terry Wilson is a 'big get' for Kentucky but there's competition at quarterback

And there's Gunnar Hoak, the Dublin, Ohio native who enrolled at Kentucky a semester early in 2016, the same time Johnson first appeared on campus in Lexington.

"To see where he started to where he's at now, I'm just proud of where he's at," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him at his best."

Hoak has never played in a college game. He was 14 for 25 with 121 passing yards and a touchdown on Friday.

"Overall I think I played pretty good," he said. "I've got to get better obviously."

And there's the redshirt freshman duo of Danny Clark and Walker Wood. Clark was a four-star recruit and one-time Ohio State commitment from Columbus, Ohio and Wood, a hometown hero from Lafayette High, spent last year recovering from knee and shoulder injuries.

"Danny is a workhorse," Johnson said. "He's got a cannon for an arm. And Walker, his ability to get back on the field and strive to be his best has been courageous."

Wilson and Wood are capable of using their legs and arm. Clark and Hoak are pro-style. But whoever gets the job — Wilson and Hoak appear to be the frontrunners after spring practices — have more than statistics and tangible qualities to replace.

"Stephen was a tough guy," Hoak said. "We've got to step in for a guy who led his team to two bowl games. We've got to keep that tradition going now and compete and do the best we can for the team."

Johnson announced in January he was retiring from football. He didn't, however, include the part about his injuries. He finished his career ninth in program history with 4,342 passing yards.

But stats don't tell the story.

"Those are some big shoes to fill," Wilson said. "He was such a great player."

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