What to know about Kentucky football QB Kaiya Sheron who will start vs. South Carolina

Kentucky football star quarterback Will Levis has been ruled out of the Wildcats’ game against South Carolina due to a foot injury.

With Levis out, the spotlight increases turns to backup quarterback Kaiya Sheron, who will make his first career start. Here is what you need to know about the redshirt freshman from Somerset.

1. Kaiya Sheron has won at Kroger Field before

The two-time Kentucky high school Class 2A Player of the Year, Sheron led Somerset High School to a 14-1 record and the 2019 2A title as a junior. Sheron threw a game-winning touchdown pass on an untimed down on the final play of the game to send Somerset to the first state championship in school history.

The touchdown pass capped a five-play, 86-yard drive over 28 seconds. Sheron completed 10 of 15 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown in the win.

As a senior, Sheron threw for 2,016 yards and threw 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 465 yards and 10 more touchdowns.

The 247Sports Composite rated Sheron as a three-star prospect and the No. 9 recruit in the Kentucky high school class of 2021.

2. Kaiya Sheron wants to emulate Will Levis

Every quarterback wants to play, but the Kentucky backups entered preseason camp knowing only the No. 2 job was up for grabs.

Levis, widely projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was entrenched as the starter. Sheron and Iowa transfer Deuce Hogan battled serve as Levis’ primary backup. Hogan entered the season at No. 2 on the depth chart, but coaches later listed the backup as Hogan or Sheron.

Sheron was the quarterback warming up on the sideline at Ole Miss while trainers attended to Levis’ injured finger, but Levis was ready to play by the time Kentucky received the ball again.

Coaches have applauded Sheron for the strides he made from year one to year two in the program. At least part of that progress could be attributed to watching Levis every day.

“He’s got all the hype around him,” Sheron said before the season. “That’s where I want to be. I want to be a starting quarterback in the SEC. I want to be a starting quarterback. I just got to watch him and perfect my craft. Shape my game around me.

“I’m not going to run like him, so I’ve just got to do what’s best for me.”

3. Kaiya Sheron has not thrown a pass in college

If Sheron starts against South Carolina he will be in line for just his second appearance in a UK jersey. Sheron’s only game experience to date was on the final drive of Kentucky’s 31-0 blowout of FCS Youngstown State on Sept. 17.

Sheron did not attempt a pass in that game, handing off to running back Dee Beckwith twice before letting time expire. This is the redshirt freshman’s fourth semester on campus since he graduated from Somerset High School a semester early to enroll at UK in January 2021. Sheron did not appear in a game while redshirting in 2021.

In the 2021 spring game, Sheron completed 4 of 9 passes for 58 yards.

Against South Carolina, Kentucky can prove it’s taken one major step from last season

Kentucky football’s main goal remains reachable, but South Carolina is a tricky test

‘This guy is everything.’ Where the return of Chris Rodriguez helps Kentucky football most.

Does Kentucky football have a special teams problem? Numbers suggest it’s not that simple.

‘I wouldn’t trade him for anybody’: Mark Stoops supports Will Levis after Ole Miss fumbles