By LARRY VAUGHT
Mark Perry coached UK freshman quarterback Beau Allen at Lexington Catholic before leaving to join coach Neal Brown at Troy and then West Virginia as director of football operations. He came back to Kentucky where he was a walk-on quarterback under Hal Mumme from 1997-2000 in 2019 as a quality control coach.
He’s been working as UK’s quarterback coach during preparation for Saturday’s Taxslayer Gator Bowl after the dismissal of offensive coordinator Eddie Gran and quarterback Darin Hinshaw after the regular season ended.
Perry says both Allen and sophomore Joey Gatewood have been “good” during practices as the backup to starter Terry Wilson.
“Both of those guys have big upsides. They both enjoyed this year and both learned a lot,” Perry said. “They both traveled to every game.
“I think at this level that is a valuable time for those guys to grow and develop. They are both continuing to do that during bowl preparations.”
He noted that Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, a one-time UK commit, and former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick, did not play immediately in college.
“They both learned and grew and developed and when their number was called they played at a high level,” Perry said. “It is a growth process for most quarterbacks and both Beau and Joey have grown a lot this year and will keep growing.”
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