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Returning starter at quarterback ... Showed good field presence last season, with a knack for limiting turnovers and keeping the team out of negative plays ... Has the tall build of a classic dropback passer, but also has shown the athletic ability to run the ball effectively ... Has played in 15 games ... Team has a 6-3 record in his nine starting assignments. Statistics 2008 (Sophomore): Started the first eight games under center, then returned to the starting lineup for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl ... Named UK's Most Outstanding Offensive Player in the Liberty Bowl victory over East Carolina ... Completed 19-of-31 passes for 204 yards and a touchdowns vs. the Pirates ... Was named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Week following the Middle Tennessee game in which he completed 28-of-47 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns ... Earned an ESPN Helmet Sticker after leading Kentucky to the school's largest fourth-quarter comeback in history over the final five minutes of the Arkansas game ... He connected with Randall Cobb for scoring strikes of 32 and 21 yards in the last 4:15 of the game for the 21-20 victory ... Also against the Razorbacks, he completed a career-long pass of 71 yards for a score to Alfonso Smith ... Strung together 95 consecutive passes without an interception to begin the season. 2007 (Redshirt Freshman): Made his first career appearance against Eastern Kentucky ... Completed his first career attempt to Sean Murphy for 16 yards ... Finished the day 3-of-4 for 30 yards ... Entered the Kent State game for one series and led a UK scoring drive as tailback Derrick Locke raced up the left side for a 67-yard score ... Saw action against Florida Atlantic, completing one pass to Murphy for four yards ... Came in for one play in relief of Andre' Woodson against Tennessee, handing the ball off to John Conner for a four-yard pickup. 2006 (Freshman): Redshirted ... Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week twice during the season. High School: Blessed with excellent height and a powerful arm ... Three-year letterman at GlenOak HS in Canton, Ohio, he began starting at quarterback midway through his sophomore season ... Showed both running and passing skills ... As a senior he threw for 1,523 yards and six touchdowns while adding 533 rushing yards and 12 more TDs on the ground ... Team went to the state playoffs his junior year as he passed for 2,405 yards and 16 TDs while adding 353 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground ... Team competed in Division I, the largest classification in Ohio ... Earned all-county, All-Federal League, and all-district honors two years and was honorable-mention All-Ohio as a senior ... An All-America prospect by PrepStar ... Rivals.com rated him the nation's No. 31 pro-style quarterback and one of the top-40 prospects in Ohio ... One of the top-125 players in the six-state Midwest area by SuperPrep ... Coached by Jack Rose ... "Michael is big and agile, with a terrific arm," Rose said. "He can make all the throws. I think he's going to be an outstanding college quarterback, and have a good chance of playing after college." ... Also a standout in track, an indication of his athletic ability ... A four-year letterman, competing in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, high jump, and 4x400 relay ... Advanced to the state finals in the 300 hurdles, high jump, and 4x400 relay as a senior ... Has been a Special Olympics volunteer ... Narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan State before picking the Wildcats. Personal: Born in Canton, Ohio ... Son of Dave and Laurie Hartline ... His brother Brian just completed his football career at Ohio State ... Major is kinesiology. Community Cats: Participated in events with the Boy Scouts and UK Children's Hospital (2008) ... Guest visitor at St. Jude's Children's Hospital (2008). |
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