College Football

Kentucky Football: TaxSlayer Bowl Preview - UK's QB

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:53 p.m. ET

Fansided, Chad Adams/FanSided via Wildcat Blue Nation

Kentucky Football: While the running game gets all the attention, quarterback Stephen Johnson is the Cats’ X-Factor in the upcoming matchup with Georgia Tech

Nov 5, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Stephen Johnson (15) runs the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs in the first half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Boom Williams and Benny Snell get all the yards, the touchdowns and the attention, and with good reason. But as good as Kentucky‘s rushing game has been, quarterback Stephen Johnson has been and will remain the most important X-Factor for the Cats heading into the TaxSlayer Bowl matchup with Georgia Tech.

Way back in September, if we were to predict who would win the Howard Schnellenberger Award for the most valuable player in the Governor’s Cup versus Louisville, an SEC Player of the Week by SEC Gridiron Now, a Manning Award Star of the Week, and even an SEC ESPN Helmet Sticker, Johnson wouldn’t have been a likely choice.

But after Drew Barker suffered a season-ending back injury, Johnson assumed the role of QB 1, Johnson has lead Kentucky to a record of 5-3 as a starter, while closing the game in two more victories against New Mexico State and Austin Peay.

Johnson lead the way in four conference wins, directed a game-winning drive against Mississippi State, and then did it again to knock off archival Louisville. In those two game-winning drive, the junior was absolutely clutch, making big throws when the Cats needed them most.

Throughout Johnson’s run as a starter, he has shown remarkable touch on the deep ball, igniting the Kentucky offense with with big-play striking ability. Nowhere was that more evident than in the win over Louisville, where Johnson threw for 338 yards, with two absolute bombs to Garrett “Juice” Johnson, a 75-yarder on the first play of the game, followed by a 63-yard score. Johnson also hit tight end C.J. Conrad for a 72-yard touchdown this season.

That big-play potential is important, as it has become the perfect compliment to Kentucky’s outstanding running game. When opposing defenses stack the box to stop the run, Johnson can burn them deep. And against Louisville, he hit all the short and intermediate throws as well.

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If Georgia Tech commits to stopping the run, and they likely will, Stephen Johnson could again play a key roll in the vertical passing game. And if Johnson is dialed in like he was against Louisville, the Kentucky offense will be very tough to stop.

What the stats don’t show, of course, is Johnson’s toughness. Through adversity, injury, turnovers, deficits, more often than not this season, Johnson has got it done. Simply put, he’s a gamer. And when he’s out there fighting, it’s clear this Kentucky team is ready to follow his lead.