![]() ![]() Quarterback play was inconsistent throughout the coaches' UK tenure after a back injury derailed the career of former four-star recruit Drew Barker early in their first season. Signaling a decision had already been made, Stoops declined to comment when asked about staff changes after the game out of respect to the coaches who had just helped Kentucky to the win. Kentucky finally found some semblance of the offensive balance it strived for in Saturday's 41-18 win over South Carolina with 291 rushing yards and 201 passing yards, but that performance came against a Gamecocks team with just 16 available defensive players and only one defender who started the season opener remaining. It’s not going to win games if you can’t get first downs." "It’s losing football," Stoops said after the Nov. In back-to-back blowout losses to top-five foes Alabama and Florida in November, Kentucky recorded just two first downs in 13 second-half drives. Wilson threw for 390 yards in the first two games of the season, losses to Auburn and Ole Miss, but Kentucky quarterbacks threw for more than 120 yards just two more times in the final eight games. With Bowden gone to the NFL and quarterback Terry Wilson returning from a torn patellar tendon, Kentucky's offense was supposed to transition to a more balanced approach in 2020. And, thanks to the players for believing in me in good and bad times, I love you all and wish you nothing but the best." I appreciate the support of the Big Blue Nation for five awesome years. "I appreciate the hard work and loyalty of the coaches who have coached with me. "Coach Stoops has always treated me like family and our professional relationship is awesome. "I want to thank president Eli Capilouto, athletics director Mitch Barnhart and, of course, Coach Stoops for the opportunity to be at Kentucky,” Gran said in the release. Gran's offense averaged 350 rushing yards per game with Bowden at quarterback, and Bowden won the 2019 Paul Hornung Award as college football's most versatile player. While Bowden played quarterback in high school, he was not a credible passing threat.ĭespite averaging just 52 passing yards per game, Kentucky won six of eight games with Bowden at quarterback, including a 45-13 blowout of rival Louisville in which the Wildcats threw for just four yards. Gran was forced to reinvent the offense again midway through the 2019 season when Kentucky's top three quarterbacks were sidelined with injury, forcing wide receiver Lynn Bowden to move behind center. Misery Index: LSU's national championship starting to feel like a distant memory as embarrassing losses Gran and Hinshaw, who coached Kentucky's quarterbacks, came to UK after leading a Cincinnati offense that ranked sixth nationally in passing yards per game in 2015, but a combination of quarterback injuries and the emergence of star running back Benny Snell saw their offense quickly transition to a run-heavy attack during their first season in Lexington.ĭuring their tenure, Kentucky posted two of the top three rushing seasons in program history, but the Wildcats ranked no better than 97th nationally in passing yards per game in any of his five seasons at the helm of the offense. Winners and losers: Ohio State, Texas A&M stay on playoff track after college football Week 14Īfter Saturday's game, Kentucky's offense ranks 105th of 127 teams in the country in points per game (21.7), 117th in yards per game (311.8) and 121st passing yards per game (124.4). Under his leadership, the UK offense established a stellar power rushing attack, but its lack of a consistent passing game proved too much to overcome in a 10-game Southeastern Conference schedule this season.Īmway Coaches Poll: Alabama remains No. Gran, who also coached the UK running backs, led Kentucky's offense during the program's run of four consecutive bowl games from 2016 to 2019. I also want to recognize the success we had, going to a bowl game every year since his arrival, with a reflection of our shared vision to do what was necessary to win games." "I appreciate Eddie for the true professional and friend that he is. ![]() "Eddie and I pondered about this for weeks and mutually agreed that this was the way to move forward," Stoops said in a release. On Sunday, Kentucky fired offensive coordinator Eddie Gran and co-offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw, the school confirmed in a news release. Mark Stoops' vision for the future of Kentucky football's offense will include a new coordinator leading it. ![]() ![]() Watch Video: Mark Stoops: Kentucky football's offense 'not good enough' ![]()
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