Stephen Johnson is Expected to Arrive on Campus Tonight

[wildcatman26]

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/stephen-johnson-is-expected-to-arrive-on-campus-tonight/

Junior College quarterback Stephen Johnson II wasn’t expected to arrive on campus until this weekend, but his coach told the Herald-Leader’s Ben Roberts that Johnson will arrive in Lexington today, with his official visit beginning tomorrow.

With the postseason departures of Reese Phillips and Patrick Towles, new offensive coordinators Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw hand-picked the nation’s #5 dual-threat quarterback to compete for the starting position. Johnson was between visiting Arkansas State and UK, until another QB came into the picture at Arkansas State.

The timing of the visit is crucial. Tomorrow the first day recruits can visit after dead period. Friday is the last day Junior College players can enroll for the spring semester. Johnson only recently learned that he could be academically eligible to enroll in time to participate in Spring Practice.

Before Johnson’s visit is over, UK could have a new quarterback committed, signed and enrolled.

If you haven’t watched his highlights, his quick release is fantastic, but not as eye-opening as his hurdles and front-flip into the end zone.

 

[Rhavic]

Hopefully he commits, signs, and enrolls. I would like for him to get the starting role. QB's like him are what the great offenses use these days, and Gran's offense has a lot of read-option plays in it. Would be big to get him on board early, learn the scheme, and thrive.

 

[TotesMcGotes]

I dont "want" him start. Per se. He will start. Im predicting it.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Reel him in Coaches, need him bad !!

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Would be estactic if we were able to land this kid. Put pressure on Barker to get better and be able to play him against certain teams if need be.

 

[screwduke]

Read something a few days ago saying the reason he is transferring is because he lost his starting job after an injury. I can't imagine he's coming here to ride the bench. Hinshaw and Gran must have told him he has a pretty good shot at being the starter.

 

[Glenn Fohr]

Get him Gran!

 

[vhcat70]

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/stephen-johnson-is-expected-to-arrive-on-campus-tonight/

Junior College quarterback Stephen Johnson II wasn’t expected to arrive on campus until this weekend, but his coach told the Herald-Leader’s Ben Roberts that Johnson will arrive in Lexington today, with his official visit beginning tomorrow.

With the postseason departures of Reese Phillips and Patrick Towles, new offensive coordinators Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw hand-picked the nation’s #5 dual-threat quarterback to compete for the starting position. Johnson was between visiting Arkansas State and UK, until another QB came into the picture at Arkansas State.

The timing of the visit is crucial. Tomorrow the first day recruits can visit after dead period. Friday is the last day Junior College players can enroll for the spring semester. Johnson only recently learned that he could be academically eligible to enroll in time to participate in Spring Practice.

Before Johnson’s visit is over, UK could have a new quarterback committed, signed and enrolled.

If you haven’t watched his highlights, his quick release is fantastic, but not as eye-opening as his hurdles and front-flip into the end zone.

He's been expected to visit Thursday since last week, so I don't get him not being expected till Saturday.

Aren't all recruits "hand-picked"?

 

[hmt5000]

the 60% completion has me thinking some of you guys are wayyyy overestimating how good of a passer this guy is. watch his highlights and some of the catches his receivers came up with were circus catches. 60% isn't better than drew at all. i like this guy as a change a pace qb for the run game and read option stuff but he's not gonna lead us to a bowl by himself. i definitely want this guy and can see plenty of upside in his game but i think by the end of spring he will be firmly 2nd string with some packages put in for him to run some option stuff.

 

[Poetax]

Honestly I just want him to be like other SEC backup QBs, that when he's needed we won't miss a beat on offense.

 

[CloverforkCat]

the 60% completion has me thinking some of you guys are wayyyy overestimating how good of a passer this guy is. watch his highlights and some of the catches his receivers came up with were circus catches. 60% isn't better than drew at all. i like this guy as a change a pace qb for the run game and read option stuff but he's not gonna lead us to a bowl by himself. i definitely want this guy and can see plenty of upside in his game but i think by the end of spring he will be firmly 2nd string with some packages put in for him to run some option stuff.

the 60% completion has me thinking some of you guys are wayyyy overestimating how good of a passer this guy is. watch his highlights and some of the catches his receivers came up with were circus catches. 60% isn't better than drew at all. i like this guy as a change a pace qb for the run game and read option stuff but he's not gonna lead us to a bowl by himself. i definitely want this guy and can see plenty of upside in his game but i think by the end of spring he will be firmly 2nd string with some packages put in for him to run some option stuff.

Drew Barker stats.... 35-70 1 td 2 int. 50% completion pct. Not exactly the Messiah of UK football !

 

[Beatle Bum]

If he comes, we should let Gran and Hinshaw take these QBs through the spring before we start to assume the starter. Be prepared for a battle that goes again into the fall and do not declare that a bad thing.

 

[docholiday51]

Visit, sign, enroll and throwing passes to receivers by the end of the day all recruiting should work this way

 

[Levibooty]

One thing that is simply fact, Patrick Towles was given a whole lot more time to develop than what some posters here are doing currently with Drew Barker. It's amazing how ignorant people can be and feel perfectly good about themselves after displaying that ignorance to the world.

By the time Barker got to play this past year there was enough issues of contention and team challenges in play that QB performance was just one of a multitude of problems. Anybody saying Barker is not talented or anything other than a very good prospect at QB for next year hasn't listened to Gran, Hinshaw, or the Elite 11 camp. Whether he can play at that level in college is yet to be seen but for anybody to say he won't or can't, well that's the bloviating bluster of a insufficient thought process at work.

 

[docholiday51]

One thing that is simply fact, Patrick Towles was given a whole lot more time to develop than what some posters here are doing currently with Drew Barker. It's amazing how ignorant people can be and feel perfectly good about themselves after displaying that ignorance to the world.

By the time Barker got to play this past year there was enough issues of contention and team challenges in play that QB performance was just one of a multitude of problems. Anybody saying Barker is not talented or anything other than a very good prospect at QB for next year hasn't listened to Gran, Hinshaw, or the Elite 11 camp. Whether he can play at that level in college is yet to be seen but for anybody to say he won't or can't, well that's the bloviating bluster of a insufficient thought process at work.

I think your last sentence says what most are thinking, we don't know if he can play as well as we need him to at this level, UK can't afford to put all their eggs in one basket that may or may not have a hole in it. He took over in a difficult situation but there wasn't enough evidence to say he is what we need to go forward.

 

[JHB4UK]

Aren't all recruits "hand-picked"?

Well, yeah, of course

but moreso than others, when it became obvious we were going to hire Gran & Hinshaw, and they examined our precarious QB depth chart, they did a thorough evaluation of 17 nationwide juco QB's. And Johnson quickly became target #1.

 

[Rhavic]

One thing that is simply fact, Patrick Towles was given a whole lot more time to develop than what some posters here are doing currently with Drew Barker. It's amazing how ignorant people can be and feel perfectly good about themselves after displaying that ignorance to the world.

By the time Barker got to play this past year there was enough issues of contention and team challenges in play that QB performance was just one of a multitude of problems. Anybody saying Barker is not talented or anything other than a very good prospect at QB for next year hasn't listened to Gran, Hinshaw, or the Elite 11 camp. Whether he can play at that level in college is yet to be seen but for anybody to say he won't or can't, well that's the bloviating bluster of a insufficient thought process at work.

I'd prefer Stephen Johnson because he has legs, and there's a good chunk of Gran's offense that uses the read-option. Barker may develop a lot of things, but good speed will never, ever, ever be one of those things. In today's football, the dual-threat is an important aspect of many great offenses.

 

[DACats86]

Johnson's not even the backup QB yet, and he's already the most popular player on the roster... Geeez, people...

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

We need the best QB to be under center, whoever it is. Guess spring will be very interesting if this kid signs and enrolls.

 

[Rhavic]

Johnson's not even the backup QB yet, and he's already the most popular player on the roster... Geeez, people...

Nope, but he does have one advantage over all the others, and it's a pretty important one against the best defenses. Would you argue against that?

 

[Mr Schwump]

Johnson's not even the backup QB yet, and he's already the most popular player on the roster... Geeez, people...

Some UK fans think he'll be a mixture of Dobbs and Jackson. Again, those guys are run first QBs who can throw a little. Johnson is a throw first guy who can run a little. Setting yourselves up for disappointment if you're not more realistic.

 

[DACats86]

Nope, but he does have one advantage over all the others, and it's a pretty important one against the best defenses. Would you argue against that?

I honestly don't know - I have not seen enough of Barker in a situation with competent coaching and play-calling to know if he is the best option or not. I do think it is a very good idea to bring someone in that can compete immediately with Barker for the starting position, but I'm not willing to crown Johnson the starter yet. I will trust Gran and Hinshaw to make that decision, and I will say that I have much more confidence in them than the clown that was in that position before.

 

[Rhavic]

Some UK fans think he'll be a mixture of Dobbs and Jackson. Again, those guys are run first QBs who can throw a little. Johnson is a throw first guy who can run a little. Setting yourselves up for disappointment if you're not more realistic.

Throw first should be the objective for a QB. The threat of big runs are there though (due to a 4.56 forty, which is very fast for a QB and in last year's NFL combine, would be the 3rd best behind Marcus Mariota [4.52] and Nick Marshall [4.54]).

Nobody think he's going to be a mixture of Dobbs and Jackson, but to say that the goal for him to be as effective as a QB in his own respect isn't attainable is silly. What I'm asking for out of a QB though is the ability to effectively run the read-option, and the ability to make the intermediate passes with the occasional long-ball over the top. Johnson looks like he's capable of doing that. Don't make it out to be like we're expecting the Heisman winner to come onto the team, nobody assumed that, but as far as fitting scheme, it's hard to argue with Johnson as a very good fit. Even more difficult to argue it once you consider Hinshaw picking him out after evaluating 17 different QB's, actually.

 

[3 fan_rivals214492]

You guys all understand it is between us and ARKANSAS STATE right????? And you guys think this kid can start in the SEC????

 

[Mr Schwump]

Throw first should be the objective for a QB. The threat of big runs are there though (due to a 4.56 forty, which is very fast for a QB and in last year's NFL combine, would be the 3rd best behind Marcus Mariota [4.52] and Nick Marshall [4.54]).

Nobody think he's going to be a mixture of Dobbs and Jackson, but to say that the goal for him to be as effective as a QB in his own respect isn't attainable is silly. What I'm asking for out of a QB though is the ability to effectively run the read-option, and the ability to make the intermediate passes with the occasional long-ball over the top. Johnson looks like he's capable of doing that. Don't make it out to be like we're expecting the Heisman winner to come onto the team, nobody assumed that, but as far as fitting scheme, it's hard to argue with Johnson as a very good fit. Even more difficult to argue it once you consider Hinshaw picking him out after evaluating 17 different QB's, actually.

Where did I say goals weren't attainable for Johnson?

Look, I hope he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I hope at the very least Johnson makes Barker a better QB....and I hope Barker makes Johnson a better QB. I hope either or both makes UK a winner.

 

[DACats86]

You guys all understand it is between us and ARKANSAS STATE right????? And you guys think this kid can start in the SEC????

Couple of ?'s for you - where did Oregon's starting QB this past year come from? Where did UGA's starting MLB from this past year come from? Who is recruiting him doesn't matter one iota to me, it's whether he can play or not.

 

[JHB4UK]

Almost as though we didn't just watch a Clemson walkon wide receiver torch Bama's secondary stuffed full of consensus 5 star corners/safeties or something....

BUT DAT OFFER LIST THO!!!!1!&!

 

[Rhavic]

You guys all understand it is between us and ARKANSAS STATE right????? And you guys think this kid can start in the SEC????

This matters? YOU understand that Hinshaw was a QB coach in this league at Tennessee, brought a QB in as a true freshman, and he contested Peyton Manning's records, right? The man knows quarterbacks. He knows what quarterbacks in the SEC should look like. Hell, Gran knows what SEC players should look like, he spent 15 years in the league.

Yes, I do think the kid can start in the SEC. It would be foolish to assume otherwise too.

The best quarterback in the SEC for the last couple of seasons (Dak Prescott) was a 3 star recruit.
The best player in all of college football in 2014 (Marcus Mariota) was a 3 star recruit.
WKU's QB, who could put up big numbers against anybody with WKU talent, was close to being a 2 star recruit.
Luke Falk, the best passing QB in FBS (and from a P5 conference above all, the PAC-12) was an unranked recruit. Even Arkansas State recruited him, but ultimately, didn't offer.
Patrick Mahomes from Texas Tech? 3 star recruit. This kid was still putting up points on LSU despite the fact that he was running for his life every play because Tech's line was awful.
Chad Kelly from Ole Miss, remember him? Put up the most yards through the air in the SEC? 3 star dual threat QB.
Nate Sudfeld, Indiana. 14th in the country in yards per game through the air. 3 star QB (in the B1G)
Paxton Lynch, the Memphis QB. Kid may actually be a 1st round draft pick. He's a 2 star recruit.

It would genuinely be more difficult to disprove the notion that the kid could play, and succeed in the SEC, because every single year, quarterbacks ranked nearly the same as him, or even lower, put up ridiculous numbers, and coaches from big schools say "Well hell, I wish I would have gotten that kid on our roster".
Every. Single. Year.

 

[richbrookstomato]

Putting unrealistic expectations on a kid before he ever signs here is doing him a huge disservice.

I'm hoping he can give our offense some unpredictability if nothing else. A competent backup is essential when playing in the SEC.

 

[jauk11]

This matters? YOU understand that Hinshaw was a QB coach in this league at Tennessee, brought a QB in as a true freshman, and he contested Peyton Manning's records, right? The man knows quarterbacks. He knows what quarterbacks in the SEC should look like. Hell, Gran knows what SEC players should look like, he spent 15 years in the league.

Yes, I do think the kid can start in the SEC. It would be foolish to assume otherwise too.

The best quarterback in the SEC for the last couple of seasons (Dak Prescott) was a 3 star recruit.
The best player in all of college football in 2014 (Marcus Mariota) was a 3 star recruit.
WKU's QB, who could put up big numbers against anybody with WKU talent, was close to being a 2 star recruit.
Luke Falk, the best passing QB in FBS (and from a P5 conference above all, the PAC-12) was an unranked recruit. Even Arkansas State recruited him, but ultimately, didn't offer.
Patrick Mahomes from Texas Tech? 3 star recruit. This kid was still putting up points on LSU despite the fact that he was running for his life every play because Tech's line was awful.
Chad Kelly from Ole Miss, remember him? Put up the most yards through the air in the SEC? 3 star dual threat QB.
Nate Sudfeld, Indiana. 14th in the country in yards per game through the air. 3 star QB (in the B1G)
Paxton Lynch, the Memphis QB. Kid may actually be a 1st round draft pick. He's a 2 star recruit.

It would genuinely be more difficult to disprove the notion that the kid could play, and succeed in the SEC, because every single year, quarterbacks ranked nearly the same as him, or even lower, put up ridiculous numbers, and coaches from big schools say "Well hell, I wish I would have gotten that kid on our roster".
Every. Single. Year.

Nice, thanks for the list, very impressive.

 

[Kooky Kats_anon]

If anything, I hope he can be a valuable asset to Scout Team so that for the first time in forever, UK defense won't **** the bed preparing for and defending the read/option.

 

[greginky1957]

You guys all understand it is between us and ARKANSAS STATE right????? And you guys think this kid can start in the SEC????

I read that and what troubled me was that Arkansas State had another QB enter the picture it said and that was when he began to focus on us.

 

[Rhavic]

Putting unrealistic expectations on a kid before he ever signs here is doing him a huge disservice.

I'm hoping he can give our offense some unpredictability if nothing else. A competent backup is essential when playing in the SEC.

Again, who's doing this? The most anybody has said is that he can be a good, starting QB. That's it.

 

[jauk11]

Arkansas State needs more fans.

Feel free.

 

[Glenn Fohr]

If we sign him then he easily becomes the most athletic quarterback on the roster.

 

[TheBigBlueSpectacle]

Throw first should be the objective for a QB. The threat of big runs are there though (due to a 4.56 forty, which is very fast for a QB and in last year's NFL combine, would be the 3rd best behind Marcus Mariota [4.52] and Nick Marshall [4.54]).

Nobody think he's going to be a mixture of Dobbs and Jackson, but to say that the goal for him to be as effective as a QB in his own respect isn't attainable is silly. What I'm asking for out of a QB though is the ability to effectively run the read-option, and the ability to make the intermediate passes with the occasional long-ball over the top. Johnson looks like he's capable of doing that. Don't make it out to be like we're expecting the Heisman winner to come onto the team, nobody assumed that, but as far as fitting scheme, it's hard to argue with Johnson as a very good fit. Even more difficult to argue it once you consider Hinshaw picking him out after evaluating 17 different QB's, actually.

Your point is even further validated by what Cam Newton is doing right now. Good points

 

[Glenn Fohr]

I don't think Johnson would be giving us even a sniff if he hadn't been told he would have the opportunity to come here and play right away.

 

[JordanJ21]

I'd prefer Stephen Johnson because he has legs, and there's a good chunk of Gran's offense that uses the read-option. Barker may develop a lot of things, but good speed will never, ever, ever be one of those things. In today's football, the dual-threat is an important aspect of many great offenses.

How can you prefer a juco quarterback to Barker? How about you let him get with the team and compete first. Barker shattered records with his legs as well as his arm in high school and was cast into a disaster of an offense. Not a kick against Johnson, I just don't get how people are so quick to anoint the new "guy" when he hasn't even played a snap big boy football yet.


Let's not forget Dawson was majorly against having running quarterbacks. Although both were very athletic and could have added an extra dimension to our offense.

 

[Glenn Fohr]

How can you prefer a juco quarterback to Barker? How about you let him get with the team and compete first. Barker shattered records with his legs as well as his arm in high school and was cast into a disaster of an offense. Not a kick against Johnson, I just don't get how people are so quick to anoint the new "guy" when he hasn't even played a snap big boy football yet.


Let's not forget Dawson was majorly against having running quarterbacks. Although both were very athletic and could have added an extra dimension to our offense.

\


"Not a kick against Johnson, I just don't get how people are so quick to anoint the new "guy" when he hasn't even played a snap big boy football yet."
Maybe because the current guy has given us no reason to feel confident in his abilities.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Johnson's not even the backup QB yet, and he's already the most popular player on the roster... Geeez, people...

No one has shut the door. We all hope Drew is as good as we believed he could be, but he has not demonstrated star qualities on the field, yet. So, hoping Johnson has that kind of potential is easy.