Morgan Newton

LEXINGTON — No matter how much Morgan Newton continues to improve this summer — and count me as one convinced he will continue to do just that — his development still could be hindered by the loss of receivers Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews as well as running back Derrick Locke off last year’s team. So will Newton have enough playmakers around him for Kentucky to have a competitive offense against Southeastern Conference opponents? “Ask me again in September and I will let you know.

LEXINGTON - At least Morgan Newton didn't feel uncomfortable when he was swarmed on by media members after Kentucky lost 24-17 to Louisville here Saturday night. After all, he had been harassed by the Louisville defense all night. He was sacked six times, hit many other times and forced to scramble more than Kentucky coach Joker Phillips wanted. That's why even though Newton went 27-for-41 passing for 255 yards and two scores, he knew it was far from a winning performance. “It was just a tough night,” he said.

LOUISVILLE - Kentucky coach Joker Phillips touched on a number of subjects during his talk to the Louisville Quarterback Club on Friday. Here are some of the tidbits he shared: Senior Morgan¿Newton, one of four UK¿players to have a perfect 4.0 grade-point average last semester, will play quarterback and not change positions. Sophomore¿Maxwell Smith goes into the season No. 1 at quarterback, a spot he gained last season when¿Newton injured his shoulder and ankle. “Morgan could be a Wildcat guy, but I think it is way too late in his career for him to change positions,” Phillips said.

Perhaps it would have been better if Morgan Newton had not used Twitter to publicly question where all his teammates really wanted to get better during summer workouts. Then again, if a quarterback is truly going to lead a team, he can’t be afraid to voice opinions or challenge teammates. “Sometimes you get frustrated. That’s all it was for a minute or two. Probably wasn’t the best way to put my frustration out there, but guys responded and it worked,” said Newton about his tweet that drew statewide attention.

LEXINGTON — Former Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson admits his first year as a student assistant coach with the UK¿program has been a bit of an adjustment for him. “It was definitely different. Obviously it has been a transition going from the playing field to the sideline coaching,” said Woodson. “I love it, though. I still get the itch to get out there and compete sometimes, so I have to guard against that since I¿am coaching and trying to help the quarterbacks, not compete with them.

One thing Kentucky junior quarterback Morgan Newton has tried not to do is influence his younger brother, Langston, as he tries to not only decide which college he wants to attend, but also which sport he will pursue. The 6-4, 240-pound Langston Newton has offers in both football and track and has visited numerous schools, including Ohio State, Kentucky and LSU. He visited 10 schools during a spring break trip. “We were down in Lexington Friday to let Langston talk with the track people.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky linebackers coach Chuck Smith expected big performances from his players this season and has not been disappointed. Linebacker Danny Trevathan leads the team with 26 tackles and made his first career interception against Central Michigan. Linebacker Winston Guy has 23 tackles and got two interceptions against Western Kentucky. Linebackers Ronnie Sneed and Ridge Wilson are fourth and fifth on the team with 13 and 11 tackles, respectively. Sneed also has an interception.

LEXINGTON¿ - Billy Joe Murphy isn't backing down from top-ranked LSU. “What an opportunity we have to go in and play the No. 1 team in the country at their place,” Murphy, a Kentucky offensive tackle, said earlier this week. “That's the way we've got to approach it. We've got to put Florida behind us and learn from it.” The senior was redshirted when the Wildcats stunned the top-ranked Tigers 43-37 in triple overtime four years ago at Commonwealth Stadium. The loss was one of only two setbacks that season for LSU, which went on to win the national championship.

LEXINGTON - E.J. Fields is catching on, but his teammates couldn't follow his lead Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium. The Frankfort High School graduate had a career outing with seven catches for 57 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats' 24-17 loss to Louisville. Fields gave the hosts a chance when he hauled in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Morgan Newton with 6:19 remaining that turned a 24-10 deficit into a one touchdown margin. The score was a dream come true for Fields. “I've seen that play a thousand times in my head,” he said.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky freshman quarterback Maxwell Smith's sprained right shoulder was better Monday and now UK¿coach Joker Phillips says he expects him to be able to play Saturday against Tennessee. Smith was hurt in last week's loss at Georgia. “We expect Max to go. He's working to try to get his range of motion back.  Again, it's a lot better than it was yesterday and a lot better than it was Saturday,” Phillips said Monday. Phillips said he could go until game day before he decides whether Smith will start or if he'll go with Morgan Newton, the former starter who has been out with a sore shoulder and sprained ankle.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky will honor 19 seniors before Saturday night's final regular-season home game against Samford in what will also be coach Joker Phillips' final game as head coach in Commonwealth Stadium. Phillips was fired after UK's 40-0 loss to Vanderbilt two weeks ago that dropped the Wildcats to 1-9. He initially did not plan to coach the final two games, but reconsidered at the urging of his players - and especially his seniors. “That's the reason I'm coaching these last two games.

It's time to quit referring to Kentucky coach Joker Phillips as a great guy or someone who has spent multiple years of his life at UK as a player, assistant coach and head coach. It's time to quit referring to Kentucky's young roster even though the Wildcats are playing more true freshmen than almost every team in the country. Instead, it's time to face the obvious - something just has not clicked in Phillips' three years as head coach and the Wildcat have to make a change, especially after the embarrassing 49-7 loss at Arkansas Saturday.

LEXINGTON - Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders admits it has been a "tough ride" for senior quarterback Morgan Newton this year. He was coming back from shoulder surgery, lost his starting job to Maxwell Smith, did not play well when he got to start at Florida and dropped to No. 3 on the depth chart behind true freshmen Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles. “Tremendous character. Tremendous integrity. It speaks volume about the type of family he comes from. It speaks volumes about how much he's bought into what coach (Joker)

LEXINGTON - Kentucky freshman quarterback Patrick Towles has a high ankle sprain that could prevent him from playing again this season. Towles led an 80-yard scoring drive in his first appearance in Saturday's loss to Mississippi State, but was hurt on his fourth play after throwing his first touchdown pass. Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said Monday he was listed as “week-to-week” with another true freshman,¿Jalen Whitlow, No. 1 on this week's depth chart again with senior Morgan Newton now No. 2. “We'll take a look at him (Towles)

LEXINGTON - Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles has a high ankle sprain that may or may not prevent him from playing again this season. Towles led an 80-yard scoring drive in his first appearance Saturday in the Wildcats' loss to Mississippi State, but was hurt on his fourth play after throwing his first touchdown pass. Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said Monday he was listed as “week to week” with another true freshman, Jalen Whitlow, No. 1 on this week's depth chart again with senior Morgan Newton now No. 2. “We'll take a look at him (Towles)

LEXINGTON - For Patrick Towles, his collegiate debut was “what he dreamed about growing up” as a kid in Fort Thomas. He was Kentucky's Mr. Football at Highlands last year and the marquee name in the University of Kentucky's 2012 recruiting class. Yet he had been slated for a redshirt season until starting quarterback Maxwell Smith went down with a likely season-ending ankle injury and senior Morgan Newton was ineffective. Towles finally got his chance to play here Saturday against Mississippi State and his first series was so impressive that former UK quarterbacks Tim Couch and Jared Lorenzen immediately went on Twitter to praise him. And they should have even though the Wildcats eventually lost 27-14.

LEXINGTON - Freshmen quarterbacks Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles both did enough right at Wednesday's practice to impress coach Joker Phillips. “Physically they look good. They both can throw the ball and they both had bright eyes today. Those guys are excited about having an opportunity,” said Phillips. “We will put them out there and see what they can do.” The two will both play Saturday against No. 20 Mississippi State because Maxwell Smith is out indefinitely with an ankle injury.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said playing two true freshmen quarterbacks - Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles - against Mississippi State is going to be “exciting” for both teams. “The team we're playing has no idea what they're about to get,” Phillips said. “We don't know.” That's because Kentucky¿won't have sophomore quarterback Maxwell Smith for the rest of the season. Phillips announced¿Monday that Smith would need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left ankle after he was hurt on the second play of Saturday's loss to South Carolina.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Joker Phillips says playing two true freshmen quarterbacks - Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles - against Mississippi State is going to be “exciting” for both teams. “The team we're playing has no idea what they're about to get. We don't know,” said Phillips. That's because UK¿won't have sophomore quarterback Maxwell Smith for this game or likely any more this season. Phillips announced¿Monday that Smith would need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left ankle after he was hurt on the second play of Saturday's loss to South Carolina.

LEXINGTON - Jalen Whitlow wasn't a last option for Kentucky when Maxwell Smith went down with an injury on Kentucky's second play from scrimmage during the Wildcats' 38-17 loss to sixth-ranked South Carolina Saturday night at Commonwealth¿Stadium. Whitlow turned out to be Kentucky coach Joker Phillips' first choice before Smith could get settled down in his first outing in two weeks. The redshirt freshman made his debut in the second half of Kentucky's 38-0 loss at Florida last week in Gainesville, throwing for 12 yards on seven attempts, but was given more of a prominent role following Smith's injury less than three minutes into the contest against the Gamecocks.