Toward the end of the season, Kentucky fans got a taste of freshman QB Drew Barker, who  started the final two games after coach Mark Stoops benched Patrick Towles.

It appears Wildcats fans will be seeing a lot more of Barker under center in 2016.

Towles announced last week that he plans to transfer for his final year of eligibility. Barker is the only other quarterback who took a snap for Kentucky this season, so it appears, by default, the starting job will be his to lose.

There are pros and cons to Towles leaving. How Stoops handles the negatives could make or break Kentucky next year.

The advantage to Barker is the comfort of having the starting role without grinding out a battle throughout the spring and summer. He can play loose and not be afraid to lose his job with any mistake.

Of course, the flip side is that he could become complacent. But that doesn’t seem likely.

Based on his minimum playing time in 2015, Barker should realize he has a lot of work to do. He completed just 50 percent of his passes, averaged only 5.2 yards per attempt, and threw one touchdown versus two interceptions. If complacency is a factor, Kentucky will have major problems.

But without competition, the young quarterback won’t have to look over his shoulder. He can establish himself as the leader of the offense.

For that to happen, though, Stoops will have to commit to Barker as the starter as early as spring practice.

Stoops could pretend to have an “open competition” like so many coaches do. The other two quarterbacks projected to be on the Kentucky roster are junior Reese Phillips and 2016 commit Gunnar Hoak.

Stoops could give Phillips or Hoak a quick look. Competition could toughen up Barker, but it might be more beneficial to announce Barker as the starter early in spring practice then give him the bulk of the repetitions with the first team.

Kentucky has been dealt a tough hand. Despite Towles’ regression in 2015, his departure weakens the Wildcats at the position. But Stoops doesn’t have a choice in whether Towles stays.

He does, however, have the ability to give his new starting quarterback a majority of the practice repetitions so he is prepared as possible.

Going all in on Barker might be Kentucky’s best chance at its first bowl appearance since 2010.