KENTUCKY SOPHOMORE QB PATRICK TOWLES

Stats: 225-of-392, 57.4 percent, 2,718 passing yards, 14 passing TDs, 9 INTs, 36 sacks, 122.8 rating

Big-time game: Towles’ best game came in a losing effort. The Wildcats had a chance to really have a special season by knocking off then-No. 1 Mississippi State and making a bowl game. In that game, Towles was 24-of-43 for 390 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 23 carries for 76 yards and another two touchdowns. He singlehandily kept his team in this game and he did it with his arm and his legs.

Not his best effort: His worst game came in the season finale against in-state rival Louisville. Towles was only 14-of-29 for 176 yards with zero touchdowns and two picks. The Wildcats had a chance to knock off the Cards and become bowl eligible, but they lost, 44-40. If Towles had a better game and didn’t commit those turnovers, I believe the ‘Cats win that game. He had a few tough games this season, but this one is the one that hurt his team the most.

Improvements: I can’t say I saw a whole bunch of improvements during the course of the season. He has the arm strength and occasionally the accuracy of a big-time player, but his decision-making and inconsistency really hurt him this year. He showed flashes of brilliance during the season, but would also have brutal games in which he wasn’t accurate and his thought process was off. He’s a young kid and has plenty of time to work on his craft, but he’ll need to really dedicate himself. He will also need to improve his play on the road. At home he was a different player as he threw for 10 touchdowns and only two picks. When he had to play away from Commonwealth Stadium, he threw four touchdowns and seven picks.

Strengths: Towles has the size and arm talent of a NFL quarterback. His strengths are exactly that. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, he’s the prototypical pro quarterback. He can make every throw and he’s very mobile for his size. Towles needs a big offseason to add a little more muscle and work on his accuracy and knowledge of the offense.

Weakness: His weakness over the course of the season was decision-making and accuracy issues. He has the arm strength and I think he sometimes trusted it a little too much. He showed that he can be extremely accurate, so when he makes so bad throws it just makes you wonder. Kentucky needs to help its team out — or to plead with the league — and make sure it schedules a bye week to break up the season. The Cats had eight straight weeks of games and I think they just got worn out.

Overall: I like Patrick Towles and think he can be one of the best quarterbacks in the entire SEC. He has all the things you look for in a quarterback with his size, arm talent and mobility, but his youth showed this year. He will have a great offseason and Kentucky will surround him with the talent that he needs. I fully expect him to have a breakout season next year.