Starting QB Cutter Boley is Growing Into a Leader

Cutter Boley threw two TD passes in his first 2024 start. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops confirmed the news that Kentucky fans wanted — redshirt freshman Cutter Boley will start again at quarterback Saturday night when UK plays at  South Carolina.

Boley will make his third career start at South Carolina. Boley also started in UK’s previous game and threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns in an easy win over Eastern Michigan after transfer Zach Calzada, who started the first two games, was injured in the 30-23 loss to Ole Miss.

Here is what Kentucky coach Mark Stoops had to say about Boley on Monday:

On Cutter Boley being listed first at QB on depth chart…

Stoops: “It is what it is. It is a combination of a lot things. Zach (Calzada) is not, has not been 100% to this point.”

On what the EMU game showed him what Cutter could do and where he’d grow…

Stoops: “I think you know this by watching us very closely for the last year and a half, Cutter has done some really good things and you have heard me talk about him many different times. We’ve watched him play in other games and show flashes. We have been very confident in Cutter. And I have also told him the whole time, ‘You are going to get your opportunity, it is about what you do and how you play when you get that opportunity.’ I thought he did some very good things in this last game. It is a lot to build on and he is getting more confident and he’s getting more comfortable with every rep.”

On what are the challenges facing him this week on the road at night in the SEC…

Stoops: “I think, as I mentioned, going on the road in the SEC is difficult. We know that playing at South Carolina – Williams-Brice (Stadium) – that place is incredible with a great, great atmosphere and it is always a real challenge. I think it’s about us and our operation for him to play in a hostile environment like that, we have to have people play good around him. We have to really work this week on the silent count and crowd noise and all those things.”

On his decision-making vs Eastern Michigan and how he thought he did with that…

Stoops:“I thought he did a very good job. It is easy for all of us to watch the film afterwards and dissect it and maybe have some opportunities that were there that maybe were missed. But overall, he was very comfortable, he’s very confident and he played well.”

On what he’s looking for specifically for those around Cutter to do to help everyone be successful…

Stoops: “We just have to play clean. We have done a very good job this year of protecting the football. I think we have one fumble, one interception. We have to continue to protect the ball. The operation has to be good as far as pre-snap penalties and things of that nature. Just the communication as a whole. The offensive line, I think it starts there. We have to get some protection. We know South Carolina can harass the quarterback, we have to give him some time and have to have some balance as well.”

On how Cutter has grown in the leadership department…

Stoops: “I think those come through reps and through times authentically, he is definitely a leader. It’s always a learning process with a young quarterback as you bring them along, but Cutter is very likeable. The kids believe in him. They were excited last week, no reflection of Zach, as I mentioned, if anybody gets hurt. We never want to see that, but I think players were excited to watch Cutter and see what he can do and he’ll have another opportunity here this week.”