Kentucky thought it had solidified its quarterback position for the next five years when it signed not one but two four-star quarterbacks in its 2009 recruiting class.

The Wildcats were content with their starter at the time — Mike Hartline — but were aggressive in signing quarterback prospects Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski to shore up the position in the coming years.

Unfortunately, instead of improving at the position the Cats quarterbacks would only deteriorate following Hartline’s senior season in 2010.

When Hartline missed time with an injury in 2009, it was Newton who filled in as the No. 2 quarterback while Mossokowski redshirted. When Hartline was suspended for Kentucky’s bowl game following the 2010 season, Newton was called upon once again. And after Hartline graduated from UK, it was Newton who was named the starter to open the 2011 season.

Realizing he would always play second-fiddle to Newton at a position that requires but one player, Mossakowski transferred to junior college and then to Lamar to finish his college career. He never attempted a pass as a Wildcat.

Newton, meanwhile, struggled mightily in 2011 and was eventually replaced by then-freshman Maxwell Smith. Although he played sparingly at the end of the 2011 season and throughout a rocky 2-10 campaign in 2012, Newton was never reinserted as Kentucky’s full-time starter after being pulled eight games into 2011.

For his career, Newton completed 193 of 384 pass attempts (50.3 percent) for 1,837 yards with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He never threw for more than 793 yards in any one season.

And for what it’s worth, Mossakowski completed 125 of his 200 pass attempts (62.5 percent) at Lamar for 1,318 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Kentucky had two supreme talents in its 2009 class and needed just one to pan out to keep the offense operating at a high level. It whiffed on both prospects, and the offense has yet to recover.

Kentucky hasn’t reached a bowl game since Hartline left the program, and his 2010 numbers remain the best by any Kentucky quarterback in the last five years.