Cutter Boley (8) says his heart has always been at Kentucky. (Vicky Graff Photo)
While redshirt freshman Cutter Boley could still be Kentucky’s quarterback of the future, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan explained Friday at UK’s Media Day that starting Zach Calzada at quarterback is not a knock on Boley.
“We are extremely excited about Cutter, OK? I think everybody knows that,” said Hamdan. “With that being said, in my role, I’ve got to think about Cutter Boley and his future, and what he’s going to look like two years from now and four years from now, and what it could look like after that.”
Hamdan even used a NFL analogy — knowing Boley hopes to play in the NFL. He could also have been talking about what happened to former UK star Tim Couch when Cleveland picked him No. 1 in the NFL draft and he got clobbered behind a subpar offensive line.
“You get a high (NFL) draft pick early, and you put ’em in a situation maybe where the guys around him aren’t ready yet, and he goes out there and can lose confidence quick,” Hamdan, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterbacks coach in 2017, said. “And so for (Boley), we want to get him as many reps as he can, feeling as confident as he can, get the pieces around it.
“It’s really hard for a young quarterback to understand that. To want it obviously right now? That’s what you want him to do. But the focus has got to be on consistency in his game and being ready.”
Boley played in four games as a true freshman and even started against Louisville after an impressive reserve role at Texas but was only 6-for-15 for 48 yards with two interceptions against the Cardinals in a 41-14 loss.
When Kentucky added Calzada, who had played at Texas A&M, Auburn and Incarnate Word, many speculated that Boley might transfer and he definitely would have had numerous options if he had put his name into the transfer portal. Instead, he made it clear Friday he was not interested in leaving.
“I know it’s not a wildly popular thing to not transfer nowadays, but it just kind of comes from how I was raised. This is the place I want to be,” Boley said. “I don’t mind waiting. If you keep working, good things happen is what I was taught and believe.”
Boley said he’s learned more patience during the last year and believes he will eventually be rewarded for his work.
“It feels a little bit better when you get stuff done after you’ve waited and grinded for it,” Boley said. “My heart really is here. My heart is at Kentucky. I love coach Hamdan and everything he does. I just feel like I fit in perfectly here and have to be patient and keep working.”
2 Responses
No Kentucky quarterback will have a future here until we prove that we have a running game that demands respect and a Big Blue Wall of an offensive line that keeps our quarterback upright. Having a couple of receivers who can get open and catch might help too. Oh, I left out an unpredictable, yet competent offensive play caller. Yeah, one more thing…a defensive that keeps a game winnable. But all of that requires us having a head coach who can win…we have Stoops.
Boley is getting better every practice as he should. He's still not quite ready to be the starting QB of a SEC team. He could start this year if Calzada gets hurt. Or if we get a 2-3 TD lead put him in the game and see how he does for a drive or 2. He looked terrible against Louisville the last game of the season. That's the last game film I watched on him was the Louisville game and after watching it I believe he's a year away from being a starting QB in the SEC. If Calzada is a just a touch better start him and see how he does. I just don't think he's mentally ready. He's not immature, it's just he's supposed to be a true Freshman this season. I think he will stay here and wait his turn next year. I don't see him transferring and having to learn a whole new offense. He will have so many weapons next year. Gilmore, Cozart, Stellato, Quisenberry, Miller, and all the other freshman this year will be ready to contribute next year. This year all the senior receivers will have a veteran QB throwing to them. Calzada will do great. I think Boley gets better every game and by the halfway point in the season there could be a QB change if Calzada isn't bringing the heat every game. I think Calzada will do fine. Really Boley can learn a lot from Calzada. He's played a ton of college football. Maybe start Boley and if he plays bad start Calzada. I think Boley is still a year away from being a SEC starter. Boley could start the Jon Sumrall era as Kentucky's coach next year. I see Tulane is again considered a playoff team. Whole Kentucky with a much bigger budget is picked to win 3-4 games. People say Sumrall isn't ready to be a SEC coach? That's absurd.