UK officially adds two quarterbacks to its program. One of them is ‘a big monster.’
Two quarterbacks will enroll at the University of Kentucky in January.
Lexington Catholic standout Beau Allen, whom UK has recruited since he was a freshman, was the first signee of the 2020 recruiting class announced by the school on Wednesday. The addition of Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood was publicly addressed by the school for the first time as part of its National Signing Day coverage.
“They’ll come in in January and the first thing we’ll do is make sure they get acclimated to being at Kentucky,” quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw said during UK’s live web show. “Then we’ll start diving into the playbook.”
Head coach Mark Stoops addressed the addition of two quarterbacks to the program during the show as well.
“They are different styles but both are just great competitors,” Stoops said. “We’ve been recruiting Beau for four years now and have gotten to know him and his family so well. ... Joey is a unique situation. Any time you go into a transfer it’s different. ... He’s a big ol’ dude, now. A big monster. He’s a real talented player and we’re excited to bring him into the fold.”
Gatewood announced this month that he would transfer to UK after spending two seasons at Auburn. UK will apply for a waiver for immediate eligibility to the NCAA on his behalf, but if denied he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2021 season.
“I know we’re gonna work on an appeal for that and see if we can get him eligible, but we have a plan both ways,” Hinshaw said on Behind Kentucky Football, a podcast produced by the UK Sports Network.
Allen will be a true freshman and one of seven scholarship quarterbacks expected to be on Kentucky’s roster entering the spring in addition to Gatewood, Amani Gilmore, Nik Scalzo, Sawyer Smith, Terry Wilson and Walker Wood.
Co-offensive coordinator Eddie Gran said he can’t wait to coach both newcomers. “He’s a gym rat,” Gran said of Allen, who “throws the deep ball as good” as any player he’s seen. Gran expects Gatewood will have to sit out for a year, in which he’ll get to learn a lot from Wilson and Allen.
His confidence in what UK can accomplish offensively has grown this season, one in which the Wildcats have started three different signal-callers, including wide receiver Lynn Bowden for the majority of the year.
“We could go into a game with Beau Allen tomorrow and we wouldn’t have any problem moving the ball. Same with Joey,” Gran said. “ … I’m not sure I could have said that three years ago.”
Analysis
Hinshaw provided live film analysis of Allen and Gatewood during the webcast.
On Allen: “The one thing with Beau is his accuracy down the field,” Hinshaw said. “Quick release, gets the ball out really fast ... His deep ball is very good. He does a good job of getting what we call ‘opportunity balls’ to our receivers. ... He’s gonna be a guy that comes in here in January that competes right away. ... In the pocket he does such a good job. He can escape, he can do everything that we need him to do as far as reading defenses. ... He’s got a natural release and he’s had a lot of snaps at quarterback in high school.”
On Gatewood: “You can see right here, huge quarterback, 6-5, 240 pounds. Can move really good and see down the field, great escapability, big powerful fast quarterback .... For a guy that’s 6-5 240 that can move like this, his quickness, it’s pretty darn impressive. ... He didn’t really get recruited and stuck with Auburn through his commitment. We’re ecstatic to get him. ... This kid can do it all.”
Jeremy Jarmon, a former UK defensive linemen who now works for UK, was part of the broadcast as well. He chimed in about Gatewood.
“As a former defensive lineman, it’s a nightmare to see a guy like this,” he said.
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 8:46 AM.
