Gran and Hinshaw's comments about Drew Barker

[vhcat70]

I already explained that. Quick summary of what was already covered, Hinshaw was offering the evaluation he remembered of Barker as a senior at Connor High School, when Hinshaw was recruiting him. That was a couple of years ago, and it reflected his perceptions of Barker's upside as a high school player. But Hinshaw's comments about Johnson reflected how he thinks Johnson - when compared to 30 other quarterbacks he just evaluated in December - will fit into Kentucky's offense RIGHT NOW in terms of accuracy, quickness, desire, leadership. If you don't think that's an important difference, then we agree to disagree. And if you think I have an anti-Barker agenda, then you are full of it. I have never questioned or said anything negative whatsoever about Barker's talent or upside. Not once. I want all our Kentucky players to succeed. But I just don't think Barker is ready to do that yet. And I don't think he can get there in April with Hinshaw's handpicked guy competing against him for the starting job and probably taking half the snaps with the 1st team offense. I hope I have done a better job of saying it this time.

Aren't all recruits hand-picked? Who aren't hand-picked? Those that show up & say they want a scholarship & are hand-one on the spot, no questions asked? Hinshaw's choices were quite constrained given the late timing & JUCO restrictions whether he looked at 17, 30 or a 100 QB's. You don't think Hinshaw has as much or more up-to-date evaluation info on Barker today as he does on Johnson? I do. I also haven't seen where Hinshaw has said Barker won't fit our O RIGHT NOW or that he doesn't have the skills he touts for Johnson. Net, I don't get at all why you conclude Johnson is any more ready than Barker.

 

[rudd1]

-I am amused that some folks who blamed Towles for everything wrong in the world last year are having their feelings hurt by people questioning a kid whose sole accomplishment in college is getting KTFO at a dorm in Richmond. I hope Drew earns the job...but if the new guy is better, so be it.

 

[UKCatNnc]

The statement you cited is taken just a little bit out of context since Gran and Hinshaw were describing their impressions of Barker as a high school senior. Barker was a highly regarded recruit, and a lot of schools would have liked to sign him. Take a look at what Gran and Hinshaw said about Steve Johnson when he enrolled at Kentucky a few weeks ago. It is the same kind of very complimentary statement. I attended our home games in November, and watched Kentucky-Vandy on TV. Barker may become a great quarterback someday, he certainly has the build for it. But right now he is nowhere close. It is not just the kind of situation where Barker could make a leap to greatness became of a coaching change. The kid isn't that close. Not yet. Johnson is coming to our program fully expecting to beat out Barker for the starting quarterback job, and Johnson was handpicked for this by Hinshaw. There will be a competition, and both kids will get their chance. But as I look at the way this has rolled out, my bet would be 60-40 for Johnson to start in September. Of course, that will be much easier to handicap after April, and it doesn't mean Johnson can hold onto the job for the whole year. I'm just reading between the lines of what Gran and Hinshaw have said, but I also admit I was shocked by watching Barker play in November. In terms of fundamentals, he was completely lost.

I thought the whole offense looked that way. Go Cats!!