LEXINGTON — Freshmen quarterbacks Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles both did enough right at Wednesday’s practice to impress coach Joker Phillips.
“Physically they look good. They both can throw the ball and they both had bright eyes today. Those guys are excited about having an opportunity,” said Phillips. “We will put them out there and see what they can do.”
The two will both play Saturday against No. 20 Mississippi State because Maxwell Smith is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. He also missed the game two weeks ago at Florida with a shoulder injury, but senior Morgan Newton played most of that game. However, Whitlow went in against South Carolina when Smith was hurt on the second play last week and Monday Phillips announced that Towles would play and not be redshirted.
Phillips believes the no-huddle, shotgun attack UK¿is using should benefit Towles in his first collegiate game.
“He has pretty good control of the ball and knows where it is going,” Phillips said. “The thing is getting him in the game and seeing what he can do and how accurate he can be in a game. A game is a lot faster than practice.
“We are going against scouts right now and he does get a few reps with ones-against-ones but we are mostly going against scouts. The game will be a lot faster on Saturday and we will get to see what he can do and go from there.”
Phillips stressed how important it will be for both freshman quarterbacks to look confident and comfortable running the offense.
“The quarterback has to be able to sell. He has to be able to get in the huddle and say, ‘This is going to work.’ That has a lot to do with it. It might not be the right call for that defense, but the quarterback has to feel comfortable enough to get in there and sell it,” Phillips said.
Williams out: Running back CoShik Williams will miss the rest of the season. He has a torn labrum in his hip.
He played in 25 games, including seven starts, and rushed for 738 yards, averaging 4.3 per carry, with seven touchdowns.
“I feel heartbroken for him because the guy has worked so hard,” Phillips said.
“Physically they look good. They both can throw the ball and they both had bright eyes today. Those guys are excited about having an opportunity,” said Phillips. “We will put them out there and see what they can do.”
The two will both play Saturday against No. 20 Mississippi State because Maxwell Smith is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. He also missed the game two weeks ago at Florida with a shoulder injury, but senior Morgan Newton played most of that game. However, Whitlow went in against South Carolina when Smith was hurt on the second play last week and Monday Phillips announced that Towles would play and not be redshirted.
Phillips believes the no-huddle, shotgun attack UK¿is using should benefit Towles in his first collegiate game.
“He has pretty good control of the ball and knows where it is going,” Phillips said. “The thing is getting him in the game and seeing what he can do and how accurate he can be in a game. A game is a lot faster than practice.
“We are going against scouts right now and he does get a few reps with ones-against-ones but we are mostly going against scouts. The game will be a lot faster on Saturday and we will get to see what he can do and go from there.”
Phillips stressed how important it will be for both freshman quarterbacks to look confident and comfortable running the offense.
“The quarterback has to be able to sell. He has to be able to get in the huddle and say, ‘This is going to work.’ That has a lot to do with it. It might not be the right call for that defense, but the quarterback has to feel comfortable enough to get in there and sell it,” Phillips said.
Williams out: Running back CoShik Williams will miss the rest of the season. He has a torn labrum in his hip.
He played in 25 games, including seven starts, and rushed for 738 yards, averaging 4.3 per carry, with seven touchdowns.
“I feel heartbroken for him because the guy has worked so hard,” Phillips said.
