A high volume of young SEC quarterbacks with limited experience have received hype heading into the 2017 season. Whether it’s Nick Fitzgerald, Shea Patterson, Jake Bentley, Jacob Eason, Feleipe Franks or another young signal caller, there seems to be no shortage of talent at the position in the league.

Heading into the 2016 season, there was similar hype around Kentucky’s Drew Barker. The UK quarterback played so well that incumbent starter Patrick Towles left the program to finish his career at Boston College. A former top recruit, Barker’s hype only increased following a strong spring performance.

The hype went away in a hurry after Kentucky started last season losing to Southern Miss at home and getting blown out at Florida. Junior college transfer Stephon Johnson stepped into the lineup and the offense found its stride, helping the team advance to a bowl game for the first time in the Mark Stoops era.

Despite losing his starting role, Barker has decided to remain in Kentucky. Like so many other quarterbacks, it would have been easy to transfer out of the program in an attempt to find an opportunity to play elsewhere. While Stoops admitted at SEC Media Days that Johnson remains the team’s starting QB heading into fall camp, he also said Johnson would have to continue to earn that role before the season opener.

Kentucky’s offensive coordinator Eddie Gran made similar comments over the weekend, suggesting that Barker has displayed high mental toughness over the last year which could help him moving forward.

“He was the starting quarterback here. So, that’s hard to do,” Gran said regarding Barker during Kentucky’s opening fall media day. “He got hurt and he came back and he got cleared. Compete. Compete for a starting position. I think that’s the best way to say it.”

“He’s got to be ready. If he doesn’t beat (Johnson) out, then when his time’s called, he better be ready to go.”

Gran also touched on Johnson, noting that he’s got to get his fumbling issues controlled, otherwise he won’t be playing this season.

“Well I don’t think there’s any question he’s going to get it fixed, because he won’t be playing,” Gran commented. “And he knows that.”

While Johnson may be the starter heading into camp, it sounds like the Kentucky coaching staff is leaving the door open for Barker to earn his starting job back come Sept. 2 for the opener at Southern Miss. With all the hype regarding the quarterbacks around the SEC this offseason, it would be ironic if the player hyped up last offseason outshined them all in 2017.