Jeff Piecoro Predicts Devin Leary’s Accuracy Could Lead to Big Year for UK Receivers

Devin Leary (Vicky Graff Photo)

WTVQ-TV sports director Jeff Piecoro is a big believer in Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary and really likes the receiving targets he will have this season at UK after transferring from  North Carolina State.

“He has three really good receivers back, five running backs, and six tight ends who are good players. This is a much deeper team and he’s going to have a lot of guys who can make plays,” Piecoro, a former UK receiver and current analyst on the UK Radio Network said.

Piecoro doesn’t expect Leary to have a clear No. 1 target like Will Levis did in 2021 when Wan’Dale Robinson had 104 catches for 1,334 yards, both UK single-season records.

“They have no one like Wan’Dale but I think the top three receivers will get 250 catches,” Piecoro said.

Those top three are sophomores Barion Brown and Devin Key along with senior Tayvion Robinson.

He also expects Leary to go over 3,000 yards passing if he stays healthy.

“I think 275 to 300 yards per game is very attainable for him,” Piecoro said.

Leary played in 30 games at North Carolina State and made 26 starts. He threw for 6,807 yards and 62 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his throws.

Leary has been praised for the “catchable” ball he throws that receivers like.

“You never see a receiver reaching back, having to jump or dive for the ball or not having to speed up or slow down to make the catch. He has receivers going up the field instead of having to turn back to make a catch,” Piecoro said.

“Will had the kind of arm where he could wait until he would see a guy open and then fire it. Leary knows if a guy is running a 12-yard out when he has to throw it and they are trying to teach Brown and other receivers not to run 11 or 13 yards. It has to be a 12-yard out because he is throwing the ball on the money based on the route.

“He is so much more accurate than the average quarterback. He’s taken hundreds of snaps and has so much more playing experience than Will did when he got to Kentucky (from Penny State). He’s a great leader and player and they just have to find a way to keep him on his feet this season.”

Two years ago Leary was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year before he was injured most of the 2022 season. Levis had barely played before he got to Kentucky and blossomed.

“Devin has seen it all. He has played against great competition and you are going to see a much more refined quarterback with him when the season starts than when you saw Will play his first game,” Piecoro said.