Pro-style experience with Iowa is helping Deuce Hogan at Kentucky

Iowa transfer Deuce Hogan has been presented with a great opportunity. The Kentucky quarterback has only been on campus for a few months but is emerging as the favorite to become QB2 for offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.

The former top-500 recruit out of North Texas is one of many players on Kentucky’s roster that is adjusting to the NFL scheme that Scangarello has brought with him from the San Francisco 49ers. However, a background with a pro-style attack is giving him a chance at getting off to a fast start.

“It is a complex system,” Deuce Hogan told KSR about Kentucky’s new offense on Tuesday. “I would say coming from a place where I’ve already learned one complex system, doing it again makes it easier. Partially because you know how your brain ticks, how to study, you know what helps you recall. But yeah, it is a complex system and it does take time and reps. Reps are king. You can’t replace them.

After two years at Iowa under offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, Hogan played in an under-center offense that prioritized stretch zone while playing with a fullback and tight end quite often. There will be some similarities in Lexington

“The pro-style aspect of it,” Hogan said about the similarities between offenses at Iowa and Kentucky. “Verbiage, lots of movement. Pretty different conceptually, but I feel that’s come very easy and what Coach Scang installs, it fits the eye well. So it hasn’t been too much of a learning curve.”

Being able to adjust to the new scheme fast is helping Hogan make a splash. The redshirt sophomore is working on playing more within the structure of the offense but knows he’s been presented with a great situation early in his career at Kentucky.

Before fall camp, Beau Allen entered the transfer portal giving Hogan a great shot at becoming QB2 and the potential next starting quarterback in Lexington. But the Iowa transfer does not what to get ahead of himself.

“It’s my job to capitalize on opportunity,” Hogan said about the backup quarterback competition. “I haven’t changed the way that I’ve approached the game at all. Obviously, the No. 2 position is very desirable, and we’re fighting for it but nothing changes in terms of day-to-day approach.”

For now, Hogan is looking to make a name for himself at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. The transfer came from a program with strong prestige that has finished ranked in each of the last four seasons. Kentucky being able to beat that Iowa football program led by Kirk Ferentz was significant for the quarterback.

“I remember vividly being very torn because it was my best friends playing against my future teammates,” Hogan said. “But I know the kind of program that Iowa is so for Kentucky to come out and beat them is awesome. It’s something that I was very proud to be stepping into.”