Stoops names Patrick Towles Kentucky's starting QB
The competition is over in Lexington, as Mark Stoops names Patrick Towles the winner of the team's offseason quarterback battle. Towles beat out redshirt freshman Drew Barker for the job and will open the season as the starter against Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns Sept. 5.
"Patrick Towles will start." - @UKCoachStoops pic.twitter.com/T6hO8JEmUm
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) August 17, 2015
Towles helped Kentucky get off to a fast start in 2014 but faded badly down the stretch, as the Wildcats lost their last six games of the season and just missed out on a bowl game. In those six losses, Towles combined to throw four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Beating out the highly touted Barker for the starting nod should alleviate any confidence issues Towles may have suffered during last season's stretch run. The Wildcats will need Towles to start hot, as three of Kentucky's first four games are against division foes.
In 2014, his first season as the Wildcats' starter, Towles threw for 2,718 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
