Cutter Boley (UK Athletics Photo)
Receivers coach L’Damian Washington is trying to fit together almost a new group of players that hopefully can put more explosiveness into the Kentucky offense next season. However, the receivers are dependent on having a quarterback who has time to throw and can get the ball to them.
Transfer Zach Calzada came out of spring practice as the perceived No. 1 quarterback with redshirt freshman Cutter Boley as his backup.
“To be honest with you, and I’m not just saying this, I think all those guys have done a really good job,” Washington said about the quarterbacks. “(Offensive coordinator) Bush (Hamdan) has done a really good job preaching competition with those guys.
“Whether it is Beau (Allen), Brennen (Ward), Stone (Saunders), Zach, or Cutter, our job is to get open out there and do our job and catch the ball and block for the running backs and tight ends.
The Cats added freshmen receivers DJ Miller, Montavin Quisenberry, Quintin Simmons, Preston Bowman, and Cameron Miller. From the transfer portal, UK brought in Hardley Gilmore of Nebraska, Ashton Cozart of SMU, JJ Hester of Oklahoma, Kendrick Law of Alabama, and Troy Stellato of Clemson.
The only returning receivers are JaMori Maclin, Fred Farrier, and David Washington.
“I like the talent and diversity we have. But the main thing is we have to be able to catch the ball and block. It’s not that complicated,” the UK coach said.
16 Responses
Still mulling the 4.5 O&U. Can we beat both SC and Vandy 🤷♂️?
Both South Carolina and Vandy have excellent QBs and good offensive lines. If our offensive line is improved we can play with anyone. That has been the trouble for our offense yes Brock V wasn’t ready it was his first year being a starter since he was in high school and it showed often times looking like a deer in the headlights but honestly who wouldn’t as much as he got destroyed. Every game he took alot of big hits which you can’t do as a quarterback. The good thing is help is here with Cutter being a year older and Zach Calzada proved he can win in the sec as a redshirt freshman he looked very good against Alabama and other sec teams. People say he couldn’t cut it in the sec but that’s not true how many freshman quarterbacks do you see playing in the sec? Hardly any in fact and he actually put together a great season to be so young. So the question isnt how good is Calzada going to be the question is will he have time to take 3 steps and drop back and also be able to scan the field. Lucky for us he has a fast release and a missile for a arm. He will look alot like Will Levis. I would say he’s a little more accurate than Levis but Levis has a little stronger of a arm. Calzada will get picked up in the NFL draft after this season. I think he has a great chance to break the 3,000 yard curse set by Mark Stoops. In almost 13 years we haven’t had one QB throw for 3,000 yards which for most teams happens every other year. Stoops would rather have 2 1,000 yard rushers than 3,000 yards passing. I think this year he will run the ball 40 times a game and split the carries up. Then we might pass the ball between 15-25 times a game. Troy Stellato who never gets mentioned will have a good year at receiver. Also Kendrick Law and Hardly Gilmore will also be big targets this year. Look for JJ Hester to be a red zone threat. He’s a 6’5" long receiver who is known for making big catches. I look for most of the freshman to receive redshirts except DJ Miller and maybe MQ which I think he plays 4 games but redshirts. We are a very young team which will probably be Stoops catchphrase all season for giving a excuse. Which is true but we shouldn’t be this young being in his 13th season. He created this monster its time for him to say its his fault. I’m expecting a 6-6 or 7-5 season I do think he gets us back to a bowl game and he will say next year will be even bigger to buy himself some more time. This will be our last chance at years end to get Jon Sumerall.
Wrong..we only win 3 games as we have taken a step back in recruiting..the transfers most could play and didn’t start for their prior team, how will they help us..Stoops as a coach sucks always making excuses..paid to much and too big of a buyout to worry about won loss records..who in the SEC do you think we beat..Candy and SC who has owned us the last 4 years are no gimmies.. I predict 3-9 record 0 wins in SEC…
I absolutely agree with you
With you Paul. would be hard for me to bet the over
I’ll just wait and see. If an offense practices against a poor defense, it is very misleading. You really don’t know until you go against the big boys.
Exactly. Which made me wonder last year. Because our defense on paper looked like a top 5-10 defense and our offense was terrible but everyone kept saying we are so balanced in summer workouts last year it made everyone believe we were going to be special then we lay a 4-8 egg. Last year was Stoops biggest year on paper and he failed. We don’t have near the top end talent we had last year I just hope everyone who played last year got a little better.
You’re right oldfan, it’s easy to look good playing your buddies. Will you still look good playing against guys who are trying to hurt you?
How about 3-9 this year ?
That means we’re stuck with Stoops.
Take it down Larry!
Its definitely a now or never year for Stoops. Do you hope we have a losing record so he gets fired and we get Jon Sumerall or do you cheer for him to get 6-7 wins and go to mayonnaise bowl every year?
It’s sad that things have to break down completely before the University does the right thing. They let Calipari stay 3 years too long and it looks like they will do the same with Stoops. When A&M didn’t hire Stoops, he should have left the program voluntarily like Calipari did. When Steve Spurier lost to Kentucky, he knew it was time for someone else to be the coach at South Carolina. He didn’t ask for more time, he put the program first and left. That is what Stoops should have done at the end of last season, but he did not want to give up that $9+ million dollar pay day or the buyout that Barnhart wrote into his contract. Barnhart needs to go as well, but he is not a University first guy.
Praying that he gets FIRED
Hopefully, it will be a never year for Stoops. I don’t think he has anywhere near a rebuilding with current talent and coaching levels. David Pollock mounting a big push for Sumerall being in the SEC very soon with his established coaching credentials and his ability to bring in good talent from portal neither, of which, lend favorably to Stoops. Hopefully, Barney has been working back channels. Will Sumerall be the next Pope in waiting for UK? This senior is very willing to sacrifice this year for that hope next year.m
I agree Stoops should have left after the Texas A&M fiasco and when the fans complained loudly and the money people they decided not a good move..Made Stoops look like the failure he is..Hopefully this is his last year as on paper I see only 3 wins 0 SEC wins..SC has owned us the last 3 years even when we were favored at home..poor poor coaching with only excuses..he must go and Bernhardt needs to STEPUP.
Barnhart had better have some wiggle room in that contract with Stoops. I think we will be lucky with 3 – 9. What kind of lawyer would allow Barnhart to sign a contract with no cancel for cause language. I would say incompetence is cause!