Destin Wade expected to get start for Kentucky in Music City Bowl

With Will Levis opting out of the Music City Bowl and declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft, Kentucky will look to its bullpen to find a replacement quarterback vs. Iowa on New Year’s Eve.

Three options are available on the roster: sophomore Deuce Hogan, redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron and true freshman Destin Wade. Hogan transferred to Kentucky from Iowa, making that an intriguing storyline. Sheron got live game reps earlier this season vs. South Carolina, so he’s got the starting experience against an SEC opponent. Then there’s Wade, a dynamic four-star athlete capable of making an impact through the air and on the ground.

Who will the Wildcats go with? If you ask KSR’s own Ryan Lemond, all three will take the field in Nashville, but it will be Wade under center as QB1.

“The quarterbacks, they’re going to play all three, but they’re going to start the Wade kid who hasn’t taken a snap all year,” Lemond said this week on the KSR Preshow. “He’s going to start, but the plan is to play all three.”

It’s an intriguing option for Kentucky, bringing in the 6-foot-3, 222-pound rookie out of Spring Hill, TN. Behind the scenes, there’s been real buzz about Wade’s future in Lexington, with coaches optimistic about his development and the possibility of him taking over down the line. It won’t be as the team’s starter in 2023 — welcome to the family, Devin Leary — but down the road? It’s very much on the table.

So why not see what you’ve got in Wade by starting him in the Music City Bowl?

There’s some real buzz about freshman quarterback Destin Wade and his future here in Lexington. He may not be under center as the team’s starter in 2023 — welcome to the family, Devin Leary — but down the road? Coaches are optimistic about his growth and the possibility of him taking over down the line.

So why not see what you’ve got in Wade by starting him in the Music City Bowl? Levis and Chris Rodriguez are both out, Vince Marrow is calling plays, the matchup is what it is. It’s the lowest projected point total in the history of college football. Why not get a little wacky and let the true freshman let it fly close to his hometown with friends and family in the stands? What does he have to lose, especially in a game Iowa will be missing a ton of talent on its side, as well?

Wade was expected to receive snaps vs. South Carolina before all hell broke loose with Levis out due to injury. Sheron got his shot and had his fair share of ups and downs. Now it’s time to see what you’ve got in the former four-star signee in a live game situation.

Marrow wasn’t able to name a starter officially this past week, but did hint at Wade getting the nod after a strong final month of practice to close out the season.

“Destin really started coming on probably the last four weeks of the regular season,” Marrow said.

Mark Stoops’ right-hand man added that Wade’s tools as a runner could be put to use in Nashville, adding that he’s a “winner” at heart.

“We add just a little bit to go to the quarterback’s strength,” said Marrow. “The greatest thing about our offense is we got Eddie Gran still who is in here, so you can always go in the archives and play that type of quarterback. But when I recruited Destin Wade, he’s a winner. That’s what people don’t realize. He’s a winner and won a very high league.

“He can make every throw, he’s athletic so we’re just going to put a little bit in. You put a little bit of the offense we had with the last coordinator and then you go with that.”

Could all three take snaps? Possibly. But it sounds like the true freshman will get the first shot on December 31.