Ranking Kentucky football’s top 5 quarterbacks of all time

LEXINGTON — If Kentucky football‘s debut season under coach Will Stein is one for the record books, it’s likely Kenny Minchey played a significant part.

A transfer from Notre Dame, Minchey will enter the season as UK’s starting quarterback. To this point in his career, the fourth-year junior has appeared in 10 games, completing 79.3% of his attempts (23 of 29) for 212 yards.

To make it onto this list, however, Minchey must put up staggering numbers with the Wildcats.

While Kentucky football historically hasn’t been as successful as other programs in the SEC, the Cats still have had their share of stellar QB play.

Here’s a look at the five best UK signal callers of all time:
football quarterbacks, ranked

(2021-22)

<

After beginning his career at Penn State, Levis transferred to Kentucky. In 2021, he helped the Wildcats to only the third 10-win season in school history. He threw for 5,233 yards in two seasons, a figure that ranks sixth in school history. His 43 touchdown passes are fifth-most in the program’s record book.

While he played in an earlier era, Parilli is undoubtedly one of the best QBs Kentucky’s ever had. He was a first-team All-America selection in consecutive seasons (1950 and 1951). He finished among the top four in Heisman Trophy voting those years as well. The 1950 club won 10 games and the SEC championship. His 50 touchdown passes still rank fourth in school history.

<

Woodson holds school records for career TD tosses (79) and most in a single season (40 in 2007). In a stretch that spanned from the 2006 season into 2007, he threw 325 passes without an interception, which was an NCAA record across all divisions at the time. Though it’s since been surpassed, Woodson’s place in UK’s history is secure.

<

An icon known for his size (6-foot-4, 270-plus pounds) — and the many nicknames that sprang from it — as much as his eye-popping stats, Lorenzen is at the top of the charts in numerous categories for UK. Perhaps the most impressive? He accounted for 10,637 yards of total offense during his career. That’s nearly 2,000 more than his closest competition (Woodson at 8,870).

<

Simply the best UK’s ever had. Couch is the most accurate quarterback in program history, completing more than 67% of his attempts. He holds the top five single-game marks for most completions, all 40 or more. Couch also holds the top two spots in the Cats’ record book for most passing yards in a season: He threw for 3,884 yards in 1997, then upped it to 4,275 in 1998. And his 72.3% completion rate in 1998 is another single-season school mark. The only reason he doesn’t hold every career passing record in Lexington? He bypassed his senior season to enter the NFL.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ranking Kentucky football’s top 5 quarterbacks of all time