Kentucky quarterback Drew Barker announced his plans to transfer via his Twitter account Tuesday night. Barker already has a bachelor’s degree from Kentucky. (Keith Taylor/Kentucky Today)
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Former Conner standout Drew Barker won’t be competing for the starting job at the University of Kentucky next season.
Barker, who has one year of eligibility remaining, will complete his master’s degree elsewhere next season he announced on Twitter Tuesday night. Barker already has a degree from UK and called it “one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.”
“That is something that I will always take pride in and cherish for the rest of my life,” he said. “I’d like to thank the coaches, strength staff, medical staff and nutritionists for all of the countless hours you all have put into making me and my teammates better men.”
The junior signal caller started the three games as a sophomore before suffering a season-ending back injury, missing the remaining 10 games of the year in 2016.
This past season, Barker appeared in three games during the regular season and completed two passes on four attempts for 33 yards. During his career, Barker threw for 731 yards and five touchdowns. His longest pass completion went for 72 yards and he tossed a 28-yard strike this past season.
Terry Wilson, a dual-threat junior college quarterback, will be counted on to fill the void vacated by departing senior Stephen Johnson, who led the Wildcats to back-to-back bowl appearances in his two seasons at Kentucky.
Wilson, who will have three years of eligibility remaining, played for one season at the University of Oregon before transferring to Garden City Community College in Kansas.
Gunnar Hoak also is expected to compete for the starting job next season.
Barker isn’t sure where he will play next season but is anxious to resume his playing career on a new campus.
“Football has taken me places that I have never dreamed of and I’m excited to see where it takes me next,” he said.
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today. Reach him at keith.taylor@kentuckytoday.com or twitter @keithtaylor21.
