Kentucky Hit the Gavin Wimsatt Button and it Didn't Fix the Offense

Kentucky has used a two-quarterback system in every game except two during the 2024 season. Tonight they did something different. Instead of just using Gavin Wimsatt as a running option, the Rutgers transfer replaced Brock Vandagriff for the entirety of the second half.

The Wildcats only trailed by seven points when Wimsatt entered the game. Kentucky only gained a yard before punting the ball back to Auburn. Mark Stoops explained during his postgame press conference that Vandagriff was not sidelined by an injury. It was always their intent to give Gavin some extended snaps against Auburn.

“(We) just wanted to get a good look at Gavin and see if he can help us move the ball,” said the Kentucky head coach.

Stoops said they need to explore all options to find a solution to the offensive problems that pop up each week. Kentucky can’t finish drives and score touchdowns. Maybe Wimsatt might solve that problem?

“Gavin has been playing all year. We planned on putting him in the third series of the game. But we moved the ball very well in the first two. Right? So if I put him in in the first series of the game — in hindsight, it went three-and-out anyway — but you’d be asking me why in the world did I take him out when we were moving the ball. You know what I’m saying? I think we judged that and said we are moving the ball pretty good, let’s stick with what is going right.”

Vandagriff was 9-17 for 120 yards and an interception. Those aren’t great numbers, but he was leading the way when Kentucky actually put the ball into the end zone. Wimsatt only completed 3-10 passes for 34 yards and an interception. He did have a 15-yard run late in the game that got the ball down inside the 5-yard line, but the drive did not finish with a touchdown.

Kentucky’s QB Problem is an Entire Offense Problem

Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan had to try something different. Whatever they were doing clearly was not working. Even though the game was in the balance and Vandagriff probably gave them their best chance to win, the Kentucky coaches felt the need to give Wimsatt a shot.

“We’ve always thought his combination of size and speed and athleticism, wanted to see if that was going to provide a spark for us. We’re at that point right now where we felt we needed to do something,” said Hamdan.

“I don’t think it’s anything to Brock’s situation again. I think that guy’s battled his butt off and given us everything he has, but we wanted to see what it looked like and decided to make a move.”

Stoops was asked multiple questions in his news conference about juggling the quarterbacks. He tried his best to downplay its significance. They have plenty of offensive problems. He did not want to add a quarterback controversy to them.

“I don’t need that to dominate the headlines,” Stoops said. “We are not playing very well. It’s never on one person. If it is Gavin or if it’s Brock, whoever it is, they can only do so much. It is a team effort.

“I know everybody likes to concentrate on the quarterback position, and I know it’s a story. Bottom line is we are not playing winning football on the offensive side and I would rather that be the headline than on any one person.”

You may not like the way he said it or how he addressed or that they even played more than one quarterback. The reality is that he is correct. This is an entire offense problem. Even though there has never been a second where I thought Wimsatt could fix that problem, I don’t blame them for trying it.

The Kentucky offense is a complete mess. One can only hope the decision to give Gavin Wimsatt extended snaps in the loss to Auburn doesn’t make it any messier.