Reese Phillips may give up Kentucky redshirt

photo Reese Phillips plays in the 2013 Blue/White spring game at Commonwealth Stadium in this 2013, file photo.

The University of Kentucky may take the redshirt from Reese Phillips, the true freshman quarterback from Signal Mountain.

"I've been practicing more than I had been, and I've had a couple of good practices," he said this week.

Kentucky has an open date this week.

With Jalen Whitlow (ankle) sidelined after an ankle injury last week in the Alabama game and his status uncertain for Thursday's game at Mississippi State, Phillips has been getting more snaps in practice along with probable starter Maxwell Smith. However, Smith isn't that far removed from a shoulder injury sustained in the Wildcats' game with Louisville.

If Whitlow is unable to play, the coaches will select either Phillips or sophomore Patrick Towles as a backup. They had hoped to redshirt both.

"It's going to be determined by how hurt Jalen is," coach Mark Stoops said. "If it's one game, we don't want either of those quarterbacks to play. We're looking at the best option, and either of the guys would do whatever we needed. They've been very unselfish."

Upcoming Events