Why quarterback transfer Sawyer Smith is a perfect fit for Kentucky
Last year, Sawyer Smith filled in for injured starter (and fellow QBC trainee) Kaleb Barker and led Troy to a 5-2 record and victory in the Dollar General Bowl (where he was named MVP). In the offseason, he transferred to Kentucky despite knowing that he’d be playing behind returning starter Terry Wilson. That was fine for Sawyer, who explained his motivation in a recent piece by the Louisville Courier-Journal:
“Here at Kentucky, I can kind of have the opportunity to impact this program,” Smith said. “I might not impact it on the field, but I’ll impact it in the locker room and impact the university however I can, pushing Terry to be the best he can be and just doing whatever I can to help out.
“…I like all the coaches here. I had opportunities to pretty much do whatever I wanted, but this is one of the best opportunities I had. I could’ve stayed where I was, I could’ve left, I could’ve went lower and played. I just made a decision that felt right.”
Should Wilson be injured or fail to make the jump expected from his first to second season as starter, Smith’s willingness to transfer to a school with a clear starter could prove vital for the program.