Zach Calzada, left, knows he needs to stay healthy this season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops hasn’t officially named a starting quarterback, but it appears transfer Zach Calzada has the early nod going into the second week of training camp.
Calzada, who played at Incarnate Word last season, has also played at Texas A&M and has thrown for 8,707 yards and 73 touchdowns in his collegiate career. He threw for 3,791 yards and 35 scores last season at Incarnate Word.
“If there was a game tomorrow, Zach would be under center, but this whole depth chart is going to move before — well, not the whole depth chart, but it can,” Stoops said. “It’s all open to move by the first game. We have a lot of practices to go through.”
So far in camp, Calzada has been taking approximately 75 percent of the reps with the first team, while sophomore returnee Cutter Boley is getting a fourth of the share of repetitions behind center.
“We feel good about it,” Stoops said. “We all know we need to play better at that position, but we all know we need to play better around him. We need to give him some time. We need to make tough catches. We need to have balance, and we need to help those QBs out.”
Calzada is looking forward to the opportunity of competing in the SEC and likes the makeup of offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s offensive scheme.
“I love coach Hamden, his offense, and the pieces that you know are going to be put in front of me and the guys that we have, and I’m just really excited for the opportunity,” Calzada said. “For me, it’s just got to be smart and aggressive. There’s going to be times where I might have to put my shoulder down on it.
“You’ve got to have a situation, but you know, also got to protect myself as a long season, know, some really good, strong opponents. I’ve got to stay healthy, but I also have got to help win games (by playing) smart and aggressive.”
Boley appeared in four games for the Wildcats in his first collegiate season. He threw for 338 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He threw for a career high 160 yards in a loss at Texas.
Much like Calzada, Boley is anxious to see how the Wildcats respond with a roster turnaround that features 26 veteran transfers, with several new faces at running back, wide receiver and the offensive line.
“I’m excited to see how we put it together. It’s like a whole different team out there,” he said. “We’ve got a bunch of different guys, a bunch of new freshmen, transfers, everything like that.”
Much like Calzada, Boley enjoys playing in Hamdan’s system.
“I like what coach Hamdan does,” Boley said. “I like the type of offense he runs. I really like the way he chooses to coach and the way he’s able to get across to the quarterback room. (I’m) super excited to have another go at it with him.
Boley and Calzada give Stoops and his staff two reliable options as the Wildcats prepare for the season opener against Toledo, set for Aug. 30 at Kroger Field.
“I have a lot of confidence in both guys,” Stoops said. “We’ll go from there.”
5 Responses
I learned a long time ago, never drink the Kool-Aid of preseason. Don't get your hopes up too high because you are setting yourself up for disappointments over things we don't have any control. These are "games" played by kids and coaches who make mistakes in a system that many times appears rigged.
Now we're talking. You know I didn't ever believe it when people say sports are rigged. I'm starting to believe it. Not from a high school level. But I think with all this money being thrown around in college and the amount of money wagered on these games. I do think it's possible. For the referees to get a call from the conference president and tell him what the score should be and how much a team needs to win by Is almost guaranteed. Vegas has taken over sports. I do believe 100% the NFL is rigged. The NBA is also rigged.
A man told me once back in the 70's that sports were rigged, did I believed him at the time NO. In todays world there's too much pretty obvious
Vegas is right most of the time. How is that even possible? If you look up the NFL it doesn't say it's a sports league. It says entertainment the same thing wwf wrestling says.
Most team's success depends largely on how injury free they can remain throughout the season; especially at the QB spot. I like that Boley is getting 25% of the practice reps with the first squad, but once the season begins he will not enter a game unless Calzada gets hurt. That will negate the progress Boley has made in practice unless Calzada gets hurt in the first couple of games. I understand keeping your starters in the game if the outcome is still up for grabs; but in the games where the outcome has been pretty much decided one way or the other, Boley needs to get on the field just to shake off the rust in his play.