Rating:

5.0 (3 votes)

Joker Phillips should know Kentucky's offense better than anyone.

And he should know who runs it the best on the field.

While Joker says he believes the Cats can win games with any of the three quarterbacks who will be vying for the starting spot next year, he's pretty clear on who he believes gives UK the best chance to win the Music City Bowl.

Morgan Newton.

"He's getting better there's no question about that," said UK's head coach of offense.

"He's getting confident. Everyday he's made a pass, made a throw or made a check that makes you go wow!"

Mike Hartline has been back at practice, still experiencing a little soreness in his knee. He is dying to get back on the field and perhaps relive some of his Liberty Bowl heroics. While Joker hopes he's on the mend, he doesn't see anyone starting on December 27th in Nashville other than Morgan Newton.

"I hope he's able to play but all these snaps that the young guy is getting, he's getting better and better and the thing we've been focusing on is throwing the ball and he's doing a good job of throwing the football."

Joker was asked if it was realistic if Hartline's knee was healthy, could he start?

"Unrealistic at this point. As we've been through five practices seeing the young guy, I think it'll be tough."

You could tell he was beaming like a proud papa when talking about Newton.

"We have a freshman quarterback who was 5-2. You look across the country at true freshman quarterbacks. Michigan 5-7. Southern Cal 8-4, which is not Southern Cal. That is what you usually get from a freshman quarterback and ours was 5-2."