Kentucky will start a transfer quarterback in the season opener for the fifth straight year when Zach Calzada (5) starts against Toledo. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops certainly surprised no one Monday when he named Incarnate Word transfer Zach Calzada, a seventh-year college player, as the starter at quarterback for Kentucky in the season-opening game against Toledo Saturday afternoon.
There was no suspense about who the starter would be, even though redshirt freshman Cutter Boley has been praised constantly by UK coaches and teammates during preseason practice and has had his best practices ever at Kentucky.
But Stoops did not bring Calzada in from the transfer portal to pay him to be Boley’s backup. He’s taken the majority of reps with the No. 1 offense in spring practice and has again this month, so there was never any real doubt about the opening game starter. Plus, Stoops has started a transfer quarterback — Will Levis (2021-22), Devin Leary (2023), and Brock Vandagriff (2024) — the last four seasons.
“The big thing is, it wasn’t what Zach wasn’t doing, I think it was Cutter really playing well, in particular, down the stretch of camp the last 10 days,” Stoops said during his weekly press conference Monday.” He just seemed so much more comfortable, so much more confident, and playing at a higher level.
“I think they were both playing good and we need that, as you know. It’s a very difficult schedule we have in front of us, and we need all hands on deck, so I’m quite confident in both of those guys.”
Calzada has started 32 collegiate games, including 10 in the SEC, and is 23-9 as a starter. Boley’s only start came in a 41-14 loss to end UK’s 2024 season. Calzada led the FCS in passing touchdowns with 35 and completed 65.5. percent of his passes for 3,744 yards with only nine interceptions at Incarnate Word. Calzada has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 8,660 yards and 73 scores with 28 interceptions at Incarnate Word, Auburn, and Texas A&M.
“I really like his experience. He’s been around a long time. He’s played in this league, he’s won big games. He was the starting quarterback at Texas A&M years ago under Jimbo [Fisher],” Stoops said Monday. “Won a bunch of critical games there, had an injury, has bounced around a little bit, but the big thing is his experience. He’s a big guy, he can make all the throws, he has a strong arm,” Stoops said last week when asked about Calzada.
While insisting his team will return to playing “physical” football, Stoops likes the way Calzada puts a priority on keeping the chains moving rather than always looking for deep balls.
Stoops said last week Boley had shown “flashes” of big-time play and had made “big gains” in his overall play. However, no matter what Boley did, Calzada was always going to be the quarterback on Saturday when the Cats face Toledo at 12:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.
13 Responses
This was never up for debate. You have a 7th year college QB going up against a redshirt freshman who should be a true Freshman. There is no competition. The coaches want to make Cutter feel as happy and needed as possible. There was talk after his freshman year of possibly transferring out. I think he will also get some game reps this year. He should really get at least a series every game. We need to get him ready to be the starter next year without ruining his confidence. If we get up by 2-3 Tds on anyone unless our offense is on fire I would play him a series. Now if our offense is moving the ball down the field easily and scoring. You have to keep the foot on the gas. It seems like when Stoops gets up by 2 TDs he starts playing super conservative. Which usually allows the other team to get back in the game and sometimes even win the game. Calzada will be the surprise story of the SEC this year. The way Diego Pavia won everyone over last year for Vanderbilt. I can see him having similar success because there games mirror each other. I think Calzada has a better arm than Pavia. I think Pavia is a little more accurate. I think they both can scramble and run for first downs to keep the drive alive. Calzada is a big man. 6-4 235 pounds. Hes the size of a SEC linebacker. He lowers his shoulder against the smaller secondary and gets extra yards. If and I say this as IF I hope it doesn't happen but if Calzada gets hurt and Boley takes over everyone is going to expect Boley to play on the same level as Calzada because of all the practice hype. I'm here to tell everyone if this happens we are doomed. It might get Boley ready for 2026. I still say hes not ready just yet to be a starter in the SEC. He might be halfway into this season, but we shall see. I just think it takes someone very mature to be the starting QB in the SEC. Its very rare to see a freshman start. Usually if they do they are the #1 player coming out of high school and usually it takes them 2-3 years to start. Look at Arch Manning. He didn't start until this year his 3rd year at Texas. He's a redshirt sophomore what Boley will be next year when he's actually ready to go.
All valid points. The problem is history repeats itself & another transfer may be brought in next year to give Boley yet another year of waiting. That may run him off if it happens again.
The other BIG need is an effective OL which has to have a solid OL coach for it to happen. Not sure any QB in the pros could have survived the fiasco faded blue wall in 2024. With the same OL coach, the results may be the same. It’s a scary outlook for any QB once he realizes the OL is not going to protect him.
I think the HC needs a raise and then he can focus on U.K. FB instead of where his next meal is coming from. Maybe Barney will soften up & give a big early-season raise if UK can “upset” power house Toledo.
If your vision is just the next game, Calzada is the first choice due to his experience. Less likely to get rattled early. Let's hope Stoops doesn't waste the Cat's football future on just this game.
5 seasons in a row with a new Transfer starting at QB. Almost as frequent as the OC revolving door produces.
Just curious – how many of the big time programs have had a new starting QB from the transfer pool 5 years in a row? And how many programs have a new OC almost every year? ALA? Ohio St? Oregon? Texas? UGA?
Hmmm – maybe none.
Has anyone mentioned the big salary Stoops gets paid ? Just curious.
Consistency! A new transfer QB every year? Is that consistency?
What are the odds UK will win 10 games this season? About the same as going 15-0.
3 wins?
4 wins?
5 wins & a bid to the toilet bowl?
6 wins & a big $1 Million raise for the HC ?
Just wait til UK hangs tough – win or lose – with powerful Toledo! That will rattle the big SEC teams! Even if UK loses a close one, it’s not the end of the season. Remember UK lost to WKU the very 1st game of the Stoops era. It takes time to get a program prepared for the opening game & UK just ram out of time.
Hope I am wrong, but if history is an indicator, Boley will not see the field even if Calzada has to crawl onto the field.
Once again, if history is the indicator, Stoops will hit the portal at the end of the season looking for another QB with game experience because Boley won't have any.
Rinse and Repeat year after year!!
Rinse & Repeat is the annual QB theme. Boley is trapped in a system that runs on trabsffers.
Most people are ready for Stoops to hit the portal.
He tried @ got bounced back by TX A&M. Maybe he will forget about that loss & try again
Even more people are ready for Stoops to hit the road.
ESPN gives Kentucky a 1.2% chance of winning the SEC this season……when does basketball season start?
Wow, that article really brought out the best comments from the most positive people. Get lives and try to be happy losers.
You're right. We should change our name from The Kentucky Wildcats to The Kentucky Happy Losers.
Sharp answer! 👍