Destin Wade throws the ball better than UK offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello expected. (Vicky Graff Photo)
He was Class 6A Mr. Football in Tennessee, a four-star prospect and a top 300 player nationally.
Yet not everyone believes that Destin Wade can play quarterback for Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference. He was considered a top 20 “athlete” in the 2022 recruiting class by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports.
He was a three-year starting quarterback for Summit High School and his team went 40-5. Summit won the state championship his junior year and was runner-up both his sophomore and senior seasons.
Many consider Wade a “running quarterback” after he amassed 2,308 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns in 2021 and threw for “only” 1,436 yards and 18 scores. But he had a ton of scholarship offers and eventually picked UK over Penn State, Ole Miss, Virginia, Tennessee, Louisville, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Arizona State. His twin brother, linebacker Keaton Wade, also signed with the Wildcats and is another top 300 player nationally.
With Will Levis at quarterback, Destin Wade is going to have time to show offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello what he can do. Remember Liam Coen was UK’s offensive coordinator who helped recruit and sign Wade before leaving for the NFL in January.
“I would say based on the way I evaluated him that he probably throws the ball a little better than I expected, which is a promising sign,” Scangarello said Tuesday. “We know he is a great athlete, a leader, know he is competitive.”
“Fortunately for him we are in no rush to play him. I think it is hard in this offense for sure it is hard to play a true freshman that hasn’t been here in the spring.”
However, Destin Wade can still be a contributor this season and get plenty of work to enhance his skills.
“He has a role to play. He is going to be huge on the scout team for us this year and he can develop and we will see what he is made of,” Scangarello said. “But so far I am impressed with him as a person and player.”
2 Responses
#8 wasn’t much of a passer but for some reason we jerked him as we were about to score the winning TD @ William Bryce – and didn’t get in.
Also beat UT first time / long time with a wide receiver @ QB – college ball not the NFL – askTebow.
Sounds like a good young talent at the QB position, groom him, coach him up. UK needs a future signal caller for the Cats. This may be the young man for the job.