Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Maxwell Smith (11) looks to throw a pass in the third quarter. (Clay Jackson photo)
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.
Maxwell Smith
He sat out the 2010 season to grayshirt before enrolling at UK so he could go through spring practice in 2011. He got his chance late in the season and was 84 for 153 passing for 819 yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions in eight games, including three starts. He was named to the freshman all-Southeastern Conference team by the league’s coaches.
“Maxwell Smith produced on field. His number one asset is that he has had some success,” Bonner, who helped UK reach the Music City Bowl in 1999, said. “He has that gunslinger attitude. Sometimes when you are young it is easier to have that because you have nothing to lose and what do they expect out of you. As you get older and more is expected of you it can be more difficult mentally.
“He has got a good arm. I don’t think he is scared. He has proven that. He will get hit and still throw the ball. He has thrown interceptions doing that. But he has the moxie you want and he produced on the field. You can have all this potential and what if, but nothing matters except production and he produced. But also remember that Morgan early in his career when not much was expected he also did produce.”
Next: Why Patrick Towles should be the starter.
7 Responses to Why Maxwell Smith should be Kentucky’s starting quarterback against Louisville
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He’s miles beter …..open your eyes !
Again, Dusty not saying who starter should be. Just evaluating what he sees as strengths of each player
I am hoping that the incoming freshman will challenge for the starting spot. The position will benefit, if there is a legitimate competition. There have been a few years, where a player just gets handed the spot and doesn’t have to improve to beat out other players. I am rooting for Towles to either start or push Smith to improve by a bunch to keep the job. Either way, I hope Towles gets worked into the games. I just can’t see keeping a player with that much talent on the sidelines all year.
The speed of SEC defenses is hard for an experienced QB to handle. I would like to see Towles be red-shirted, and learn the system and learn to read defenses. Maxwell Smith gives us the best chance to win games.
I thought that Max performed reasonably well when he got his chance last year.
(Right in the middle of SEC play) I like this kid – Of course I like all of our QB’s.
Max seems to be a fighter & has earned consideration.
Max definitely a fighter
I think at this point in time Max gives us the best chance to compete and win..I believe it is very tough if not near impossible to come into the (little NFL) SEC and start as a freshman at any position especially QB..