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Freshman quarterback Cutter Boley admitted he was a “little nervous” when he got his chance to play the second half against Murray State Saturday.
He had been waiting for his chance — he was 0-for-6 passing in his only previous playing time this season but didn’t even get to warm up that game. The last two weeks he had constant reps with the first team due to injuries to starting quarterback Brock Vandagriff and backup Gavin Wimsatt. Vandagriff started against Murray but coach Mark Stoops gave the ball to Boley in the second half who said he got more comfortable as the game went on.
Boley was so comfortable that UK scored every possession in the second half of the 48-6 win. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns and even had a 30-yard run on his first rushing attempt on an option play.
“You can’t go much further down than what I did at Florida,” Boley said after the win. “It was nice to come out here, be confident, and let it rip. I had nothing to lose. It’s nice to get out here on the field with all the guys and get back in the win column.”
Stoops liked what he saw.
“It was good to see with Cutter in there under center and moving the team and operating and just getting some substantial playing time. I know people are going to get real excited about that, and I am too. I told you all along, I thought he was a very special young man,” Stoops said.
Boley considered himself a dual threat quarterback at Lexington Christian and is not afraid to run.
“I think a dual threat is somebody that can extend plays with their legs. I’m not necessarily looking to make a ton of plays, but I can extend plays with my legs,” Boley said. “I was out there just playing, knowing when the time comes, my number is called, I’m gonna go out there and do what needs to be done.”
He was glad to get a win at Kroger Field and also glad to complete passes to tight end Josh Kattus, his roommate.
“The first one (to Kattus) was pretty cool but once you get out there it is just playing ball again,” Boley said.
Stoops liked Boley’s poise and how “nothing rattled” him during the game.
“He was very patient in the pocket. I thought he moved when he had to. Threw the ball very well and made good decisions. Definitely very excited,” Stoops said.
Stoops understands there is no “replacing” game experience and also knew many UK fans were anxious to see what Boley could do after UK’s 3-6 start. Stoops repeatedly praised Vandagriff’s toughness for playing after not getting medical clearance until Friday but also knew Boley needed to play.
“Game reps, there is no replacing game reps. It was just really good to see him go out there and just, like I said, the comfort level, going through his progressions, his throws, his poise in the pocket, it was good,” the UK coach said.
Getting Boley reps during the bye week when Vandagriff was injured helped and Stoops did not worry that Boley’s play at Florida would impact him.
“I said it right afterwards, you could tell just by watching the one game that it wasn’t going to faze him,” Stoops said. “I know him and I know his personality and that wasn’t going to rattle him.
“If anything, it would spark him to be, you know, as he told me. Don’t worry about it. Next time I’m in there I will be ready to go. He’s just got that type of personality.”
7 Responses
I can only hope that Stoops won’t let this one get away.
He is definitely the future of Kentucky football. He’s a true freshman and looked much better than Brock did in the game. Also a higher completion percentage than Brock and hasn’t had nearly the playing time as Brock. Its pretty clear who needs to be the starting quarterback next year!
And the rest of this year he should also be starting to give him some experience
I personally like both QBs – Brock & Cutter. The OL has been a fluke because the HC hired losers at OC & OL coach, so I refrain from complaining about either if these 2 QBs.
If UK does not once again use the revolving door to find new and real coaches at OC & OL, then I look for Brock to play QB at UGA and show he can lead a team with real coaches to the CFP. UK will then face UGA still remembering the close call in 2024 and be set to unleash it all.
Cutter & the new incoming FR will be deciding whether to be WildCats with 3 years of decline or choose a safe program which a real OC & real OL coach.
Did you see the first 2 passes of the game. Brock had plenty of time and a open receiver both plays and under threw both passes both of them should have been interceptions. That’s 0-2 with 2 interceptions against the worst defense in college football. I think if Cutter was a redshift junior he would have had 300 yards by halftime. No interceptions. We need Brock tho until Cutter is all the way ready. It might be a couple of games into next year but Cutter will eventually take Brocks starter status. He had more moxy and more coordination in the pocket than Brock. He doesn’t look nervous as brock does he looks like he’s having fun instead of scared.
I don’t see Brock coming back next year; not even next semester. He only has 1 year left and he cannot take a chance on Stoops making the changes that are necessary. He has known Wolford for a long time, so he is probably coming back. Not sure about Hamdan, although if it was up to me, I’d have to see who was available and possibly make a change.
Brock will probably leave at the end of the semester to get with a team where he can go through Spring Practice. His last year has got to be with a team that has a decent OL and good receivers. His last year decides his future in the NFL and I don’t think UK can help him with that.
This coaching staff has been a disaster
We need to completely overhaul the entire coaching staff