Kentucky's new starting quarterback has encountered many bumps, from being thrown into action as a freshman in 2012 because of injuries to struggling to learn a new coaching staff and offensive scheme last fall. Being redshirted has turned out to be a blessing for Towles, who revamped his mechanics and mindset well enough to claim the job he always dreamed about.
Towles knows his first career start in Saturday's season opener against Tennessee-Martin won't be totally smooth. But considering the obstacles he overcame, he hungers for precision.
The same can be said for the Wildcats, who begin Year 2 under coach Mark Stoops seeking more victories after consecutive 2-10 seasons.