Kentucky has had some unique and fun quarterbacks over the years. Though the Wildcats haven’t had the most success as a program (with a couple of notable exceptions), they have produced some of the most entertaining players, particularly at the quarterback position.
Wednesday, July 3, is Kentucky day during the SEC Network Takeover series leading up to the start of SEC Media Days on July 14. So we thought it would be a great time to celebrate all things Kentucky football.
Here are the QB Mount Rushmore articles we’ve done so far:
Alabama Arkansas Auburn Florida GeorgiaToday is all about the Wildcats, though, so let’s dive into the 4 standout players who make up Kentucky’s Mount Rushmore of QBs:
Tim Couch (1996-98)
Couch’s 1997 and 1998 seasons were 2 of the best in Kentucky football history. Under head coach Hal Mumme and OC Mike Leach, Couch was a key player in the early days of the Air Raid system. Here’s a look at Couch’s numbers in 1997 and 1998:
1997: 3,884 pass yards, 37 pass TDs, 19 interceptions, 66.4% completion percentage 1998: 4,275 pass yards, 36 pass TDs, 15 interceptions, 72.4% completion percentageCouch finished 4th in the Heisman Trophy vote in 1998, despite Kentucky only finishing with a 7-5 overall record. Ricky Williams (RB, Texas), Michael Bishop (QB, Kansas State) and Cade McNown (QB, UCLA) finished ahead of Couch in the vote.
Despite only having 2 full years as the starter, Couch is still 3rd in Kentucky history with 8,435 pass yards and 3rd all-time with 74 TD passes. He went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, going to the Cleveland Browns. He’s the only No. 1 overall pick in Kentucky draft history.
Jared Lorenzen (2000-03)
Jared Lorenzen was a truly unique quarterback. The late Kentucky legend is the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (10,354) and is second in career TD passes (78).
But numbers alone aren’t what made the Hefty Lefty a cult hero. He was defined by his creativity, his recklessness and the absolute joy with which he played the game:
The "Hefty Lefty" Jared Lorenzen could BALL. pic.twitter.com/4qY19srlwh
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) June 24, 2025There will never be another Jared Lorenzen. He was a 1-of-1 player. The Wildcats only had 1 winning season (7-5 in 2002) with Lorenzen, but that didn’t stop him from giving his all every time he stepped on the field. He put up some truly impressive numbers during his Kentucky career and had some iconic plays that will live on in the memories of Kentucky fans everywhere.
Andre’ Woodson (2004-07)
If you look at the first 3 names on this list, it’s impressive. From 1996 to 2007, the Wildcats only went through the 1999 season without an all-time great quarterback at the helm of the offense.
Woodson is No. 1 all-time in Kentucky football history with 78 career touchdown passes. The 40 touchdowns he threw for in 2007 are a single-season record for Kentucky. Woodson led the SEC in pass yards and pass TDs in both 2006 and 2007.
In 2006 and 2007, Kentucky finished 8-5 overall and won the Music City Bowl each year. Woodson also holds the Kentucky career record for most consecutive passes without an interception, throwing 325 passes between the 2006 and 2007 seasons without getting picked off.
Babe Parilli (1949-51)
From 1949 to 1951, Parilli threw for 4,351 yards and 50 touchdowns, which were pretty great totals for the era. In fact, it still ranks 4th on Kentucky’s all-time list. He finished in the top 5 of Heisman Trophy voting in both 1950 and 1951.
The 1950 season was special, as Kentucky went 11-1 overall, only losing to rival Tennessee in the last game of the regular season. Kentucky outscored its first 4 opponents by a combined score of 106-0. Cincinnati finally scored a touchdown on the Wildcats on October 4.
The Wildcats went on to beat No. 1 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl that year. Kentucky does indeed claim a national championship from that season, so Parilli and then-coach Bear Bryant have a special place in Kentucky history because of that.
Honorable Mentions: Lynn Bowden Jr. (being a wide receiver and transitioning to QB so dominantly for a season is worth mentioning), George Blanda, Patrick Towles, Will Levis
Kentucky’s Mount Rushmore of QBs Saturday Down South.
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