Gavin Wimsatt provides much-needed insurance in Kentucky's QB room

In years past, Kentucky’s depth at the quarterback position has been shaky. Take the 2019 season, for example. Terry Wilson got hurt not even two full games into the season after being brought down against Eastern Michigan. It was then up to the Troy transfer Sawyer Smith to take charge once Wilson was ruled out for the season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

Smith’s three games behind center were difficult, to say the least. The ‘Cats would fall to Florida, Mississippi State, and South Carolina back-to-back-to-back, and the average margin of defeat was by 13.3 points — almost two touchdowns per game. Unfortunately, Smith would also get hurt, and he would spend most of the rest of the season on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

Kentucky would then go on to win six of their last eight games in 2019, even with Wilson and Smith banged up. Lynn Bowden, who had spent his career up to that point playing wide receiver, would step in at quarterback. The system worked well, even earning Kentucky a narrow victory over Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl.

The only problem with that, however, is that not every team has a Lynn Bowden. He is a one-of-a-kind athlete, and he may have been the only player in college football who could have made that system work. Kentucky only had two quarterbacks who were ready to step in, and both got hurt.

However, a lack of quarterback depth shouldn’t be the case in 2024.

Gavin Wimsatt’s experience as a starter is a huge plus

With the commitment of Gavin Wimsatt, Kentucky will now have much-needed insurance behind center.

Wimsatt steps into a place where he is the only quarterback on the roster with experience as a starter at a major conference school. Brock Vandagriff didn’t start at Georgia, Beau Allen‘s starting experience came at Tarleton State, and Cutter Boley comes in as a freshman.

Bush Hamdan has already made it clear that Wimsatt can play a big role on this team, but he can also provide depth at the quarterback position. Kentucky has seen promising seasons derailed by injury time and time again.

However, Wimsatt is now an extra piece that Mark Stoops can lean on if the injury bug makes its way to Lexington again this season.