Bush Hamdan Doesn’t Want a Two Quarterback System

Cutter Boley (8) has become a calmer player this season. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky looks like it has a really good problem.

Two quarterbacks — transfer Zach Calzada, a seventh-year player, and redshirt freshman Cutter Boley — have been playing in preseason camp.

Coach Mark Stoops called it a quarterback battle Monday and praised Boley for his progress. But he also noted how well Calzada, who apparently has got most of the work with the No. 1 offense, has also done.

Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan has played two quarterbacks when he was at Boise State and did at times last year with Brock Vandagriff and Gavin Wimsatt. Don’t look for that to be the plan this season.

“I think we’re in a situation where you need to get one guy as comfortable as you can get with who he’s playing with,” Hamdan said this week. “I’m going to keep saying it: We feel very confident in both of those guys doing a nice job.”

Hamdan is not ready to officially name a starter for the Aug. 30 opener against Toledo, a must-win game for the Cats after last year’s 4-8 finish.

“Every day matters. The last 15 minutes of this practice were about as realistic of a two-minute scenario that we’ve had all year, maybe since I’ve been here,” Hamdan said Tuesday. “We’re constantly evaluating these guys, their progression.

“Cutter’s doing a lot of really good things. Where he’s come from this year to last year, his mental approach, how calm he is out there. He is pushing the needle on this in a big way. Obviously, Zach’s doing a really nice job as well. We’re very fortunate to have both of these guys here.”

That’s the line Hamdan is sticking with — it’s nice to have two quarterbacks playing so well and pushing each other.

“It’s an interesting situation because the more veteran guy just got here four or five months ago and the newcomer’s in his second year,” Hamdan said. “That’s a huge thing too. We’re taking it one day at a time.

“We’re fortunate both of these guys are here. Both of them are going to have to win football games for us when you look at the history of this conference. We’re taking it one step at a time.”