‘Gentleman’s agreement’ with Auburn about backup QB not real, Kentucky coach says
Quarterback Beau Allen was one of only two true freshmen named to the first depth chart released by the University of Kentucky football team for the 2020 season.
Head coach Mark Stoops left open to interpretation whether Allen outright earned the opportunity to back up starter Terry Wilson at Auburn or was named to that spot because of the eligibility dilemma Joey Gatewood still faces.
“I’m gonna punt on the first part of that,” Stoops said Monday when asked directly about why Allen was slotted in the No. 2 spot.
Earlier in the news conference he shared that there was still no determination regarding Gatewood’s eligibility. The quarterback announced his transfer to Kentucky last December after deciding to leave Auburn early last season. Whether he’s ruled immediately eligible or not appears to be in the hands of the Southeastern Conference, which has not yet made a ruling, according to Stoops.
In the last week there have been reports of a “gentleman’s agreement” between Auburn and UK, contingent on Gatewood not playing against the Tigers in order to facilitate an eligibility decision being made in his favor. Stoops on Monday disputed those reports.
“There’s no agreement,” Stoops said. “No gentleman’s agreement. I’m waiting to hear back from the league.”
Ideally, of course, no backup quarterback will be necessary during the Wildcats’ season opener or for the foreseeable future. As the first game draws nearer, anticipation about what the offense will look like with Wilson back under center should only heighten.
The senior is 12-3 as a starter and, despite a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 11 to 8 in his debut season, is on track to finish as one of the most accurate passers in UK history. He has not been subjected to live tackling during any of Kentucky’s intrasquad scrimmages, but Stoops is confident that Wilson is where he needs to be as he looks to take the field for the first time in more than a year.
“As physical as we are and with as much tempo and pressure we put on him, he’s taken some shots just inadvertently,” Stoops said. “But I expect he’ll be fine. He’s gotta take that first hit. He’s gonna pull the ball down, he’s gonna run, he’s gonna scramble, he’s gonna get sacked. Ball security’s a big thing. He’s got to be very conscious of protecting the football, but outside of that he’s just gotta let it go and go play and do what’s natural for him. And that’s what I’ve seen.”
Stoops on Monday was asked about how the wide receivers — for much of last year asked to do anything but catch balls — can take Wilson’s game, and UK’s offense, to another level in 2020. All eyes are on Wilson heading into this year’s opener, but they’ll stray quickly to a group whose potential will be more fully tapped this season.
In most seasons they’d have a game or two against non-Power Five competition to bolster their confidence. There are no tune-ups on this year’s schedule.
“Some of that football you see in other leagues, you are not gonna see Saturday,” Stoops said. “There’s gonna be nobody open. We have to create space, we have to get guys open. You have to work leverage and the quarterback has to throw it in small windows. We play 10 SEC teams and I can promise you, you’re not gonna see that stuff where there’s green grass all over the place and easy throws and guys open. We’re not gonna see that.”
Depth chart takeaways
Some other observations regarding UK’s initial depth chart ...
▪ The man who will replace Logan Stenberg at left guard? Kenneth Horsey, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound sophomore. Austin Dotson, a junior who was contending for the job, is listed as the backup to Luke Fortner at right guard. Both of those “newcomers” are expected to contribute a lot, and a lot of mixing and matching will happen this year on the interior.
▪ Your starting wide receivers: Bryce Oliver, Allen Dailey, Clevan Thomas and Josh Ali. The listed backups are DeMarcus Harris, Akeem Hayes and Isaiah Epps, a junior who might have started last season if not for a foot injury that ultimately sidelined him all of 2019.
▪ Former Henry Clay standout Davonte Robinson is listed as the starter at nickelback. Stoops last week alluded to outside issues keeping Robinson off the field, but it seems those have cleared up.
▪ True freshman Vito Tisdale, a standout from Bowling Green, is listed as the backup at nickel. He’s the only other true freshman on the depth chart, but seven redshirt freshmen made the two-deep roster, all as reserves: Jared Casey (inside linebacker), Eli Cox (left guard), Taj Dodson (safety), Isaiah Gibson (defensive end), DeMarcus Harris (wide receiver), K.D. McDaniel (outside linebacker) and J.J. Weaver (outside linebacker).
Nice gesture
Kentucky in each game this season will have a player wearing a jersey in game with the number “22” on it. That is the number of junior linebacker Chris Oats, who currently is in a rehab facility recovering from an undisclosed medical event that occurred last spring.
Linebacker DeAndre Square, also a junior and with whom Oats was set to start beside this year, will wear Oats’ number at Auburn. Tight end Keaton Upshaw, Oats’ former roommate, will wear his number in the Wildcats’ home opener against Mississippi on Oct. 3.
Season opener
No. 23 Kentucky at No. 8 Auburn
Noon Saturday (SEC Network)
UK depth chart
Kentucky’s starter and backup at each position for Saturday’s season opener at Auburn:
OFFENSE
Left tackle: Landon Young, Nick Lewis.
Left guard: Kenneth Horsey, Eli Cox.
Center: Drake Jackson, Quintin Wilson.
Right guard: Luke Fortner, Austin Dotson.
Right tackle: Darian Kinnard, Jeremy Flax.
Tight end: Justin Rigg, Keaton Upshaw.
Wide receiver (X): Bryce Oliver, DeMarcus Harris.
Wide receiver (Y): Allen Dailey, Josh Ali.
Wide receiver (F): Clevan Thomas, Akeem Hayes.
Wide receiver (Z): Josh Ali, Isaiah Epps.
Quarterback: Terry Wilson, Beau Allen.
Running back: A.J. Rose, Christopher Rodriguez or Kavosiey Smoke.
DEFENSE
Strongside linebacker: Jamar “Boogie” Watson, K.D. McDaniel.
Defensive end: Josh Paschal, Isaiah Gibson.
Nose guard: Quinton Bohanna, Marquan McCall.
Defensive tackle: Phil Hoskins, Kordell Looney.
Linebacker/Defensive end: Jordan Wright, J.J. Weaver.
Middle linebacker: Jamin Davis, Marquez Bembry.
Weakside linebacker: DeAndre Square, Jared Casey.
Nickelback: Davonte Robinson, Vito Tisdale.
Cornerback: Kelvin Joseph, Jamari Brown.
Cornerback: Brandin Echols, Cedrick Dort.
Strong safety: Tyrell Ajian, Quandre Mosely.
Free safety: Yusuf Corker, Taj Dodson.
SPECIALISTS
Place-kicker: Matt Ruffolo, Chance Poore.
Punter: Max Duffy, Colin Goodfellow.
Long snapper: Cade Degraw.
Punt returner: Josh Ali.
Kickoff returner: Zach Johnson.
Holder: Max Duffy, Colin Goodfellow.
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 3:24 PM.
