New Mexico Quarterback Terry Wilson Thankful for Time at Kentucky

Terry Wilson is preparing for his sixth college football season at his fourth different school. The dual-threat quarterback is playing as a Super Senior for the New Mexico Lobos after winning 17 games in three years at Kentucky, the second-most ever by a Wildcat starting quarterback.

As Wilson prepares to turn a new page in the desert, he reflected on his time at Kentucky with the Herald-Leader’s Josh Moore. Even though his time in Lexington did not have a storybook ending, he’s grateful for the years he spent as a Wildcat.

“I’ve had the best years of my life at Kentucky,” Wilson said. “… I’m thankful for all the opportunities I had. I’m thankful for everybody. The reporters, the fans, the community. I’m just very thankful to have been a part of something special like that.”

Wilson was a part of some of the most magical wins in Kentucky football history. He snapped losing streaks to Florida, at Tennessee and was under center when UK defeated Penn State in the Citrus Bowl to cap off a 10-win season. He finished the 2020 season as the first UK player to throw for more than 3,000 passing yards and run for 1,000 rushing yards.

Kentucky racked up wins with Wilson at quarterback, but the passing game failed to consistently take flight. The Wildcats ranked last in the Power Five in passing offense the previous two seasons; the high-water mark of his tenure was in 2018 when Kentucky ranked 117th out of 130 FBS programs. Sidelined by a torn patellar tendon two games into his second season, Wilson admits that he left something on the table.

“Not to sound selfish, but I didn’t like how I ended my career,” Wilson said. “I feel like I had more to put out there.”

His career at Kentucky did not end as expected, but he holds no-ill toward Mark Stoops or the UK football program. He even considered staying in Lexington after the 2020 season. Wilson ultimately decided to use his COVID-19 eligibility waiver to play for his high school coach’s son, Derek Warehime, a former Texas assistant that now serves as the Lobos’ offensive coordinator.

Focused on finishing his collegiate career on a high note, Wilson will still be cheering for his former teammates from afar. Even though he’s gone, Terry Touchdown will always consider Lexington “home.”

[Herald-Leader]