Cutter Boley feels he is getting better in every aspect. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Not only is redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley making the right plays on the field, but he’s saying all the right things off the field.
Boley threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-23 passing (78 percent) in Saturday’s rout of Florida as he got his second Southeastern Conference win and UK’s first home conference win in three seasons.
“It was huge, especially after coming up just slightly short in a few home games this year,” said Boley. “That was a good one to pull out, especially for BBN, for us, for the coaches, just everybody in general. That was a good one to go out there and dominate.”
Kentucky’s offense has not been overly productive most of the season but had three touchdowns in the second quarter against Florida to take a 24-7 lead.
“To be honest, this whole week, this whole day, we’ve come with juice, and everybody was excited and everybody was ready to play,” Boley said. “We felt that we had won this game, but we were so confident, and we had a heartbeat tonight. And it was just really good to see these guys play hard.”
Boley admits he is “growing up” as a quarterback in every aspect of his play.
“Growing in every aspect of my game, growing in leadership, growing in everything. I think these guys have really come around, and they have supported me through everything, and really kept feeding into me, and I give them all the praise,” Boley said.
Coach Mark Stoops loves the confidence Boley has gained since becoming UK’s starting quarterback.
“I hope we do a good job of giving him confidence in his protection. To see how he has grown this season, it makes me excited for these next three games, and me personally, for his whole career,” Stoops said. “Cutter has become a good friend of mine, and I look forward to seeing what he is able to accomplish throughout his time here in Kentucky.”
Note the “GOOD FRIEND OF MINE” comment by Stoops because that’s important and explains why Boley said he did not like the negativity by some UK fans towards Stoops.
“We hate it. We’re kind of taking it on our shoulders and putting it on ourselves,” Boley said. “All the guys in here love him. All the guys want to fight for him, want to win for him, everything like that. We have a really good thing going in the locker room. You can see our heartbeat that we had tonight.
“Everybody loves coach Stoops, what he does, and what he stands for, and how he addresses the team in every situation, loss, win, no matter what it is. He’s always the same guy. Loss, win, whatever it is. He’s always the same guy in the locker room. He’s always the same guy talking to us on Mondays, no matter the outcome. And I think every guy respects that and really wants to play for him.”
3 Responses
Of course he's going to say that. He can't say that Stoops and his staff have been a miserable failure for the past 2 years. He can't say Stoops should have made him QB 1 at the beginning of last year. Stoops has cost Cutter a lot of money while giving Calzada 1.25 million and he didn't complete a touchdown pass.
I know a guy that hasn't missed a home football game in 32 years. He wants Stoops gone. We've won 2 pillow fights and the 3rd pillow fight is coming up. WOO HOO
Thank you Cutter Boley. It's obvious he thinks Stoops and the coaches can coach. Great locker room environment. He said the team loved Stoops. Really that's all that matters. I would think all starting QB's would be good friends with their head coach.
Kentucky Football on three. Ready. Break!
1. Super easy for Pres. Capilouto and AD Barnhart after two dubs to simply run it back with Coach Stoops in ‘26 given the huge buyout, but will “continuity” be the theme for the staff and the program? The answer should be a resounding NO!
2. IF it’s me, renegotiated contract for Coach Stoops, some staff shakeup (Brad White may leave anyway) to help the offense and with personnel decisions (a GM). Once again, easy to say “continuity” with Hamdan and Boley, but the offense needs a change.
3. If Stoops wants to be the coach at Kentucky in ‘26, it is only under these conditions. Otherwise, attempt to negotiate on the buyout and part ways. Not personal, given the reportedly amicable Barnhart-Stoops relationship, it’s the business of college football in 2025. After all, it’s no secret, Jon Sumrall IS the short list for Kentucky football. The institution can’t miss on Sumrall AND, AND simply maintain status quo with Stoops going into 2026.
TOUCHDOWN, KENTUCKY!