By LARRY VAUGHT

While no one on the Kentucky coaching staff will confirm that it is official, look for true freshman Morgan Newton to make his first start at quarterback Saturday night when Kentucky plays at Auburn.

Several sources close to the football team have confirmed that Newton, Indiana’s Mr. Football last year, would start and Kentucky coach Rich Brooks would not deny or confirm Wednesday that a starter had been picked. Instead, he said he still preferred to let the media “have fun speculating” on who would start for the injured Mike Hartline and would also let Auburn wonder as well.

However, Brooks did emphasize he was doing what was best for the team over the next seven games and not just for one particular game and that’s telling me he sees more potential in that span from Newton than Will Fidler, a fourth-year junior who has been a backup at Kentucky.

John Newton, Morgan Newton’s father, said Wednesday night his son had not indicated to him if he was starting or not.  “He did text me to say he did well in practice. He just said coach Brooks is taking a close look at everything this week and they are splitting reps in practice. I have not really got to talk to him that much and Morgan has not told me anything for certain. He certainly has not told me he has been given the green light that he will be the person, but then again he might not tell me if coach Brooks tells him not to. He listens to his coaches.”

John Newton remembers asking his son after UK lost to South Carolina 28-26 last week when Hartline was injured if he was ready to play. “He said, ‘I was ready when I got out of the car (at UK) in June. I didn’t know anything then, but I know a lot more stuff now,’” John Newton said.

Some have projected Newton as more of a running quarterback. However, his father says he hopes Auburn and other opponents approach him that way. “Morgan can drop the ball in a basket from 50 yards. If the guy is where he need to be, he will put in there. He can put it in spots only his receiver can catch and takes pride in that,” John Newton said. “He had to do lot more running last year because he did not have the kind of receivers he has now. He has been praying to get out there with Chris Matthews and Randall Cobb and he loves LaRod King. He thinks he is the real deal. And he says the other guys have speed and talent. He thinks a lot of them are great receivers.”

John Newton, a former college player, says he is not disappointed that his son has not played in UK’s first five games. He’s also sad that his son is getting this chance only because of Hartline’s injury.

“I would never want Morgan to get a job because any kid is hurt. Neither does he. He wants to beat somebody out of a job. With the way this has played out, it has given him an opportunity to watch and see from the sidelines and really get a feel for the coaches. He has been living with them last the couple of months. He has a good perspective of what they are doing. He’s also had a chance to learn from the older guys.”

One encouraging sign could be the way players have taken to Morgan Newton. He doesn’t have a car on campus because his father felt that limited mobility would be better. “But people like Randall go to see him in his dorm room. They go out to eat and stuff. They have a bond,” John Newton said.

“I think they are going to have some things to see and there will be some fireworks with this offense. I know Morgan has really been encouraged by all the guys he’s playing with and thinks they have some great talent.”

John Newton and his family will be at Auburn. But they also went to South Carolina and the other four games Morgan Newton did not play.

“If he doesn’t get to play, we are still going to be there,” John Newton said. “You only go around once in life. I just go and do it. He needs our support. He is still soaking up all I say and we have conversations. To me, that is priceless.

“But we have to win this game because everybody has been down. Getting this win on the road is big and it will get all the heads back up and the rest of the season can just keep building and getting better.”

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