As Kentucky put the final touches on 2016 and prepares for 2017, it’s a happier Wildcats program than in recent years, thanks to a seven-win season, including an upset of in-state rival Louisville. It’s still a very busy program. While Kentucky fielded one of the younger SEC rosters of 2016, there are still several key personnel decisions that are up in the air as 2017 approaches.

1) Who’s the QB?

The 2016 season was supposed to be the coronation of sophomore QB Drew Barker. Instead, Barker had a great half (throwing for nearly 300 yards in the first half against Southern Miss), a disappointing half (as UK lost a big lead to blow that game), and a terrible game (against Florida) before aggravating an old injury on his second pass of the team’s third game. He took no further snaps, and underwent a season-ending surgery.

Junior Stephen Johnson instead became the man for Kentucky. Johnson passed for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions. He also rushed for 327 yards and three scores, a facet of his game that Barker cannot match. But Johnson was a bit scattered as a pocket passer, completing under 55 percent of his throws.

Johnson is the likely favorite for the 2017 starting job, but the race is close enough that one of the first 10 questions Mark Stoops faced after UK’s season-ending loss in the Tax Slayer Bowl was the QB competition for 2017. Redshirt Gunnar Hoak and early enrollee Danny Clark will fill out the competition, but it’s probably Johnson vs. Barker for now.

2) Who replaces Boom Williams in Kentucky’s Boom-and-Benny running attack?

Junior Stanley “Boom” Williams rushed for 1,170 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016 before announcing his entry to the NFL Draft. UK will return freshman Benny Snell, who had 1,091 yards and 13 scores himself. But who will take Williams’ role as the shifty, outside runner of UK’s backfield platoon? Could be junior-to-be Siheim King, who had showed flashes (208 yards in limited playing time, with a 9.5 yards per carry average). Redshirt freshman A.J. Rose is also mentioned as a candidate, and recruit Bryant Koback is another possibility. Either way, expect to see Snell get more carries. Boom’s successor will probably get the short end of a 75/25 split on touches out of the backfield.

3) Who will play center?

Senior Jon Toth was quietly one of the best players in the SEC, and has anchored the Kentucky line efficiently for four seasons. The question is whether UK shifts their current returning linemen around — for instance, sophomore starting guard Bunchy Stallings was recruited as a center, and could certainly play the position —  or the job is won by redshirt freshman Drake Jackson. The coaches are high on Jackson, who was ranked as one of the nation’s top center prospects in last year’s class. He will likely become the starting center, but may split time — with Stallings or someone else.

4) Who sees more time in the secondary?

The area of Kentucky’s team that will be hit hardest by graduation is definitely the defensive backfield. Seniors Marcus McWilson and Blake McClain started at safety and nickel back, respectively. Reserve cornerback J.D. Harmon will also be missed. Kentucky will probably fill the vacancies by committee. Injured sophomore Darius West missed the 2016 season, but will likely find a spot at safety if he is healthy in 2017. Freshman cornerback Jordan Griffin could provide help, and might also allow Kentucky to consider moving bigger starting corners Chris Westry or Derrick Baity to the nickel spot, at least situationally. True freshman Yusuf Corker could see the field in 2017, and redshirt freshman Davonte Robinson is well-liked by the coaches. UK will likely still be testing different combinations when the season opens.

5) Can anybody punt the football?

Freshman Grant McKinniss was one of the top recruits in the nation as a punter, but he endured a brutal 2016 season. McKinniss opened well, even averaging 44.6 yards per kick against Alabama. But down the stretch for Kentucky, his punts were both woefully short and very low — a dangerous combination in the SEC. In six of Kentucky’s last eight games, McKinniss failed to reach 40 yards per kick — and in two, he failed to even reach 35 yards a try. The only times McKinniss seemed to hit a booming kick were when he was attempting a coffin-corner pooch kick but would blast the ball into the end zone.

Backup Bryan Kirshe was apparently injured for much of the season, and no new recruits are yet publicly known, but either McKinniss has to kick the ball much better in 2017, or Kentucky has to find someone who can.