Kentucky Announces Redshirt Sophomore as Starting QB

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has announced that redshirt sophomore Patrick Towles will be the Wildcats' starting quarterback this season.

Stoops tweeted out his decision before Monday morning's practice, saying, "this competition has brought out the best in our quarterbacks and I'm confident in Patrick moving our team forward."

The 6-foot-5, 238-pound Towles was redshirted last season after playing five games as a freshman but came back this spring to become the favorite to lead Kentucky's pass-oriented "Air Raid" offense. The Fort Thomas native still had to beat out freshman Drew Barker, redshirt freshman and junior Maxwell Smith in fall camp and just last week coaches were expressing hope that one would distinguish himself.

Stoops ultimately chose Towles, who can throw deep but had to correct his mechanics.