Return of Wilson Will Enhance UK Offensive Attack
As the Kentucky football team prepares for the 2020 season, which is now just two weeks away, the most-asked question about the team continues to be the same – how is quarterback Terry Wilson?
UK fans will remember that Wilson went down in the second game last season, suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Cats’ win over Eastern Michigan. Wilson had surgery to repair the torn patellar tendon in his left knee and has done the rehab necessary to return from his injury. However, outside of the UK team and staff, no one has really seen Wilson in action since last year.
UK head coach Mark Stoops did note that Wilson continues to work his way back from that injury, including during Saturday’s scrimmage.
“Getting Terry under center again, taking those snaps and getting the rust off,” Stoops said. “Overall, very productive day.”
The Cats open their regular season two weeks from today at Auburn (Noon ET, SEC Network). Wilson is expected to be the starter when Kentucky visits Jordan-Hare Stadium 14 days from now.
Having the experienced Wilson back in the starting role should prove to be a huge advantage for the Cats this season. In 2018, Wilson started all 13 games, completing 180 of 268 through the air for 1,889 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Wilson also rushed 135 times for 547 yards and four touchdowns in the 2018 campaign.
However, with the quarterback coming off of an injury, Stoops knows that he and the staff must be careful to protect their starter, just like nearly every other team in the country is probably doing.
“I can’t speak for the 130 (Division I FBS) schools because I don’t know what they’re doing,” Stoops said. “But I would imagine 99 percent of them stay away from their quarterback throughout camp.”
Stoops believes that what is best for Wilson right now is situational training, including live reps, and getting the kinks worked out while camp is still ongoing.
“We’ll try to put him into as many live situations as we can without injuring him,” Stoops said. “The reps that he’s in there right now, I can tell you there’s bodies coming all over the place. That’s just the way we practice. We put him under immense pressure every day. You have big bodies flying at him all over the place and he has to make decisions. So, he’s feeling it, I can promise you that.”
There may be some level of concern that Wilson has not been hit in live action since last season. Stoops acknowledged that fact and noted it’s a valid point. But he also notes that he knows what he has in Wilson.
“Is it a concern? Sure. I think Terry would admit that,” Stoops said. “He hasn’t taken a full hit in over a year. That’s a concern. He’s also pulling it down and running, just like he always has, when he feels the need. I’m trying to be quick on my whistle with that. But I’ve seen enough to where I’m comfortable with it. Is there some rust? I don’t think there’s any doubt. I think that comes with playing and playing live football.”
Stoops and offensive coordinator Eddie Gran will continue to work with Wilson through the final two weeks of practice before the season opener. The coaches know what they are seeing in Wilson, but the Big Blue Nation will have to wait for the season opener to see the quarterback’s return.
