Kentucky’s Morgan Newton throws a pass during the first half of their NCAA college football game against Louisville, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
By LARRY VAUGHT
Since it’s only about two months before Kentucky opens the football season with a must-win game at Louisville if the Wildcats hope to salvage a respectable 2012 season, there is still not a consensus on who will be UK’s starting quarterback.
It could be senior Morgan Newton, an effective replacement starter for an injured Mike Hartline in 2009, a backup to Hartline in 2010 and a starter in 2011 before he was ineffective and injured.
It could be sophomore Maxwell Smith, who showed flashes of brilliance after taking over from Newton last season but was also injured and ineffective at times.
Or it could be true freshman Patrick Towles of Highlands, Kentucky’s Mr. Football last season and perhaps the best in-state quarterback product in 20 years.
But who should it be? Or who will it be?
That’s why I decided to ask former UK quarterback Dusty Bonner to make a case for why each player should be the starter. I didn’t ask him to pick a starter or explain who he thought was the best player, but merely to make an unbiased case for why each player could be the starter.
Morgan Newton
He’s played in 23 games and completed 183 of 352 passes for 1,764 yards and 14 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He was a highly-touted four-star high school quarterback in Indianapolis and went 5-3 as a freshman with wins at Georgia, Auburn and Vanderbilt in 2009 when Hartline was injured. But last year he was just 83-for-174 passing for 793 yards and eight scores with seven interceptions in 10 games.
“When you are talking just potential, and you have got the potential to be terrible as well as great, you look at Morgan and to me he has the tool set you want. He’s athletic, big. He has a good arm. I do not know how things did not go well at the beginning of last year, but it was just not him. Everybody was not flowing well. He did not get a lot of help.
“If you just look at him, he has all the tools you want. He can run. He has good size. He is a kid that you can say it is nice to have that weapon on the field behind center. He is a big weapon and has the potential to be more of a weapon than the others because he can run.”
Next: Bonner on why Maxwell Smith should be the starter.
16 Responses to Making a case for Morgan Newton as Kentucky’s starting quarterback at Louisville
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Please Larry> Get out of the sun immediately. Go get your eyes checked and get plenty of rest.. ss
A certain QB who had a ton of game experience under his belt was not effective in the WKU game, last season and looked scared against UL last year. Is there anything else that needs to be said about a player that seems to play with stage fright during games? I have seen it in basketball players more than football players. This guy seems to be a star practice player and not a performer when in front of the crowds.
I think he should try out as a fullback or a TE. He has talent, just seems that QB is too much pressure for him.
Exactly! – He is too good of an athlete not to play – Just change position!
newton wont start it maxs job to lose and the coaches saying they dont know who qb is they know it maxs thats just coaches talk . they dont want maxs to think its his cause competition get you better even if there is no competition. they want him to think he can lose it so he keeps working hard
Larry – The heat must be clouding your judgment. He would be a good TE if he can catch the ball. He’s a good athlete but not QB.
Sorry but I still think this kid has the tools to play at QB.Last year the cats line was young and bad,two QB’s hurt. But as the season progressed the line play improved, we need our reciever’s to catch the ball.Who ever gets it let’s show our support.GO CATS
Why do people always say Newton can run? Because of his skin color? That’s racist.
The dude averages less than 3 yards per carry for his career.
He is too slow and too indecisive when he runs the ball. He is not a good QB running or throwing.
He was fantastic in HS but his abilities have not made the jump to the SEC.
This gets old. We all know what QBs did in high school. We all know what they did last year in college if they played. We all know the statistics. We know how many TDs they threw, how many interceptions, how many completions. How about lets see what they do in practice today and tommorrow. It’s exactly 2 months until the big game. Why do UK fans post bad comments about their players. We could post bad games and good games for every player on the team. I don’t get it.
DITTO. postinG negative stuff about players on a POPULAR SITE IS WRONG. IMO
AND IT GETS OLD
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
Since both Newton and Smith appear to be injury prone, we best be grooming both of them and anybody else who can walk and chew gum. Where is Matt Roark anyway?
Speaking of QB,s news from Auburn is that Zeke Pike ( Dixie Heights HS ) has left the Auburn campus after a public intox. charge and will miss valuable practice time. UK sure got the best of the deal when we got Patrick out of Highlands and passed on Zeke.
Sure seems that way Dave. Sorry Pike has had so many issues, but they started in high school
Regardless of Morgans past career he can still help this team win. I remember LSU running the Perriloux package to keep teams off balance and give their starter a break. I think this will be a role Morgan can surely fill and help move the chains in certain situations. I’m not sure he’s SEC Starter material with a passing offense, but he can definitely run a spread option attack to move the chains and pick up a few first downs. Plus given Maxwell/Towles is still young it’s nice for them to get a mental break during the game as well.
I think Smith should start, but I’ll put my trust in Joker to make the right call. Whatever happens, I think it will be nice to have either player at back up. It wouldn’t surprise me if Newton doesn’t do well when he gets a chance. But again, I like Smith.
Great perspective Rick. I just love that UK has quarterback issues