Freshman quarterback Maxwell Smith will start for the Cats’ under center Saturday against Ole Miss, according to UK head coach Joker Phillips. Phillips made the announcement that Smith would start following the team’s Thursday morning practice.

Junior quarterback Morgan Newton, UK’s starting quarterback in its first eight games, has been limited all week after injuring his right ankle in the Cats’ previous game against Mississippi State, allowing Smith to receive most of the first team reps in practice.

Phillips would not rule out Newton as a potential backup quarterback if his ankle allows. Phillips said Newton’s ankle was in the best condition it had been in all week during Thursday’s practice.

Should Newton end up being unavailable to play Saturday, the UK coaching staff has decided to name freshman redshirt quarterback Bookie Cobbins the team’s emergency quarterback should Smith go down.