:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67569650/1180069701.jpg.0.jpg)
The Kentucky Wildcats are set to face off with the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday but their QB room has added depth from last week’s Auburn game.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood had been granted his immediate eligibility waiver from the SEC and can now play during the 2020 season.
So far, freshman QB Beau Allen has served as the backup to Terry Wilson in this young season. Will the eligibility of Gatewood move him to backup and leave Allen as the third string?
Mark Stoops met with the media on Thursday where he was asked about Gatewood and the depth chart.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Stoops said. “Beau (Allen) has gotten the majority of the backup reps the past two weeks. Joey has still practiced and obviously has been running plays all camp and can step in, but we’ll see. Just like any other position, we don’t’ ever really talk about the backups at the other spots. We’ll see how it goes.
“Terry is our starter. I’m excited about Terry. I know he’ll continue to improve. He always has with reps through the season. He did some really good things in the opener and we expect him to build on that just like the rest of our team. We were very efficient and very good at times.
“We just need to be good for 60 minutes.”
Gatewood was ranked as the No. 1 overall athlete and was a top-50 recruit in the 2018 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Gatewood ultimately left Auburn after losing the starting job to Bo Nix. In just seven games with the Tigers, Gatewood rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two more.
Stoops is high on Gatewood and noted how well he has been competing in practice.
“He has done a really good job,” Stoops said. “He is a really athletic guy. He’s got a great presence about him. He’s big and he’s strong. He’s thrown the ball effectively. He’s been out there working and competing with the rest of our guys.”
As for sophomore wide receiver Bryce Oliver, who missed the Auburn game with an injury, Stoops labeled him as day-to-day and expects him to be a game-time decision on Saturday.