For the first time since he stepped on campus Morgan Newton is the official, uncontested starting QB of the Kentucky Wildcats. While I expect Maxwell Smith to have some packages run for him it is Newton who could decide how far the Cats can go this season.
Can Morgan Newton live up to the hype?
When Morgan Newton announced Kentucky as his college choice just weeks after Ryan Mossakowsi had committed I had delusions of the Cats getting more 4 star recruits and turning from a 6 win team into a perennial 9 win team. Top out of state QBs just didn't choose UK, but the pro style system to prep him for the NFL was a big selling point and seemed like the beginning of great things. Fast forward 2 years and Newton has been adequate, but has yet to turn the corner into a top QB. This is to be expected as he was thrown into the fire as a freshman and then lost the QB battle to Mike Hartline as a sophomore
Can Newton turn into the next Andre Woodson?
Andre Woodson showed flashes of brilliance his sophomore year, but his coming out party was his junior year. Woodson became a top SEC QB and while he still lost to Louisville, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee he helped produce the moment of the year when Kentucky defeated Georgia.
Newton has shown an ability to manage a game but has yet to show that he can control and dominate when the situation arises. Woodson became an almost automatic force starting in his junior year and continuing into his senior season. Newton has the skill set to do this too if he can just put it all together.
Can Newton do more than a 4 yard dump pass?
Coming out of high school Newton was ranked by Rivals as the 14th best dual threat QB in that class. So far all most fans can remember are dink and dunk dump passes. For a guy who is supposed to have a cannon for an arm the coaches need to take the kid gloves off with him and the offense. With Tee Martin, Andre Woodson, and Randy Sanders all helping him, he has to take advantage of the situation he is in.
Prediction?
I think Newton does put it all together this year. I don't think he has as good a season as Woodson did as a junior, but I could see Morgan putting up over 3000 yards with somewhere around 25-30 TDs to 15 INTs. I think he gets a signature win this year be it against Louisville, Tennessee, or (cross your fingers) Florida. Hopefully it all builds toward a stellar senior year where he can rise to the top of the SEC QBs.
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