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Patrick Towles has given the Florida Gators, Geoff Collins trouble
By Andrew Olson
Published:
With Kentucky up 27-20 in overtime, QB Patrick Towles had to think he had pulled it off: his team’s first win over Florida since 1986.
But on fourth down, UF QB Jeff Driskel found WR Demarcus Robinson to tie the game at 27 and stay alive. The playclock looked like it expired, but the Gators got the snap off without a whistle. After two more overtimes, Florida walked away with a 36-30 victory.
This year, Towles and the Wildcats already have the experience of ending one negative streak. Twenty-two straight SEC road games without a win is finally over thanks to UK’s 26-22 victory at South Carolina this past Saturday. Towles would be remembered as a Kentucky legend if he can snap a 28-year streak against the Gators.
Kentucky returns seven starters on offense, with Towles the most notable. A year ago, the UK quarterback had some success moving the ball on the Gators defense, but also turned it over, recording 369 yards on 24-of-45 passing, with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins knows all too well how hard it is to defend Towles. Collins’ Mississippi State defense gave up 31 points to the Wildcats last season on a career day for Towles (24-of-43, 390 yards, two touchdowns; 23 rushes, 76 yards, two touchdowns) in a 45-31 shootout won by the Bulldogs.
Providing a big boost to Towles and the Kentucky offense are four returning offensive linemen. Familiar faces Stanley “Boom” Williams and Jojo Kemp are back carrying the ball. Williams and Kemp combined for 185 yards on 27 carries in UK’s 26-22 win over South Carolina.
Florida is coming off a strong game defending the run, holding East Carolina’s leading rusher Chris Hairston to 15 yards on 17 carries. ECU took advantage of a UF secondary with two injured starters, CB Vernon Hargreaves III and S Keanu Neal, to gain 346 yards passing. Neal is expected to be back, but Hargreaves’ status is currently unclear.
The matchup on the other side of the ball is less familiar. The last time current Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier coached against Kentucky defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot, Alabama defeated Kentucky, 48-7, on Oct. 13, 2013. This Saturday, however, Nussmeier doesn’t have the luxury of calling plays designed for T.J. Yeldon, AJ McCarron, Amari Cooper and Kevin Norwood.
Eliot is in his sixth consecutive year coaching with Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, dating back to their stint as assistants at Florida State. The Wildcats defense returns seven starters, including senior linebacker Josh Forrest and senior safety A.J. Stamps. UK defenders will key on Robinson, who tied a school record against the Wildcats last year with 15 catches for 216 yards.
Two former Florida quarterbacks had solid games against Eliot-coached defenses before their seasons went south: Tyler Murphy (15-of-18, 156 yards, touchdown, interception; 7 carries, 36 yards, touchdown) and Jeff Driskel (25-of-43, 295 yards, three touchdowns, interception).
If either of Florida’s quarterbacks, Will Grier or Treon Harris, has similar success, it could lead to one’s status as the permanent starter. But neither UF quarterback has the same level of experience or rapport with teammates as Towles. With Kentucky’s confidence, experience and looming revenge factors, expect the Wildcats to give Florida all it can handle.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS CLOSER LOOK
Top player, offense: Patrick Towles, QB, Jr. — If we’re to believe ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Towles is one of the best pro prospects in the country. He’s got a long way to go to maximize his physical potential, mostly because he’s inconsistent. But he makes the UK Air Raid offense dangerous in 2015.
Top player, defense: Chris Westry, CB, Fr. — The Wildcats aren’t exactly known for their defensive stars, especially since Bud Dupree now plays in the NFL. There are a few decent players, like Josh Forrest and A.J. Stamps. But Westry has been tremendous in the first two games of his career, making tackles in the backfield and defending passes in crucial situations.
Top player, special teams: Austin MacGinnis, K, Soph. — Named first-team All-SEC as a true freshman placekicker, MacGinnis possesses both range and accuracy. UK hopes that he’s not a lone standout on special teams as he was a season ago.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
