Kentucky Wildcats Should Avoid Distraction, Name Patrick Towles Starting Quarterback

The 2015 season is supposed to be the campaign where the Kentucky Wildcats take the next step. Head coach Mark Stoops is in season three of his rebuilding project in Lexington. After a 5-7 mark last season, Stoops and his staff (and the Big Blue Nation) hope that this is the season where Kentucky gets over the hump and becomes bowl eligible.

What coaches don’t like to have, especially in a situation like this, is a distraction. Whether it’s player suspensions, injuries or something else, a distraction can derail a season very quickly.

And that’s exactly the reason that Stoops and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson should put any doubts to rest by naming Patrick Towles as Kentucky’s starting quarterback. Stoops and Dawson opened up the quarterback competition in the spring due to two factors. First the way Towles finished last season, which was not great. And second, because Dawson is a new offensive coordinator and his scheme and terminology will be new to everyone.

By opening the competition, redshirt freshman Drew Barker had the chance to compete for the job in the spring. And, since Stoops and Dawson have not named a starter at this point, Barker is still competing for the job.

The problem with this scenario is that if there is not a clear-cut starter as training camp progresses, rumors will start. And those rumors could serve as a self-inflicted distraction that this Kentucky team simply cannot afford.

Anyone who saw Kentucky in the spring knows that Towles is the quarterback who gives the Wildcats the best chance to win. Stoops and Dawson should go ahead and make that call to avoid a potential distraction.

Tim Letcher is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.