Kendrick Law not only caught 11 passes Saturday but he also hurdled would-be tacklers. (UK Athletics Photo)
Redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley’s play is not the only reason Kentucky has won three straight games to even its record at 5-5 but his production certainly has helped.
He has now completed 159 of 231 passes for 1,780 yards and 13 scores. After hitting 18 of 21 passes in Saturday’s win over Tennessee Tech, Boley has now completed 68.8 percent of his passes. The best single season completion mark ever at Kentucky was 72.3 percent by Tim Couch. Second best currently is Maxwell Smith at 68.7 percent in 2012.
Obviously Boley could become No. 2 on the all-time list if he continues the accuracy rate he’s been showing against Vanderbilt and Louisville.
One major reason for Boley’s success has been senior Kendrick Law, an Alabama transfer who now has 47 catches for 519 yards and three scores. Against Tennessee Tech, Law was targeted 11 times and had 11 catches for 124 yards, including 78 yards after the catch.
“That’s a special player right there and any way we can get the ball in his hands really, he can make a lot of people miss and do a lot after the catch and he’s just a great guy to get the ball in his hands,” Boley said.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Law was “amazing, really impressive” in the win.
“I was talking with (UK athletics director) Mitch (Barnhart) before I came right in here (to the media room). I didn’t even realize that Cutter was 18 for 21 and Kendrick, I’m not sure it was an incompletion his way.,” Stoops said. “The one (reception) on the sideline was really impressive where Cutter, we were trying to take a shop and he came back to Kendrick in the flat right on our sidelines and Kendrick made an impressive catch.
“Then the run he had was unbelievably physical and I think some of you (media members) were down on the left side. It was violent. He’s a strong dude.”
Law said he never had a game like that before.
“It was super exciting for me, and, you know, very motivational for me to keep going and just constantly keep showing the world what I’m capable of and I got more in my bag too,” Law said. “The numbers are just part of the game, plays are made. Plays aren’t made. You just keep going forward, and it’s what we do each and every day. The win does feel good, but you learn from the losses. So, you can take some from both.”
Law said the chemistry he’s developed with Boley starts on the practice field.
“Just every day at practice, just constantly going over stuff, constantly getting more reps, constantly getting time and down. And when we got there on Saturdays, it’s just a reflection of that,” Law said.
Stoops said Law is a player who sets the tone daily for teammates.
“He’s very unselfish, he’ll block, he’ll do anything you ask him to do. He’s the first one down on a gunner on punt team,” Stoops said. “That guy would play anything. He’d play every snap. He’s just strong, he’s physical, he’s unselfish, and he’s playing at a very high level at receiver.”
Teammates definitely appreciate what Law is doing.
“Kendrick Law is one of the best players I’ve ever played with, probably the best,” UK senior receiver Ja’Mori Maclin said.
8 Responses
Boley and the excellent receivers – Law, Kattus (who is not get passed to often enough!), Rodriguez & others, plus the RB’s for some catches – would be breaking records with Hal Mummie as the HC or OC.
Boley is the best since the incredible Tim Couch, who would thread the needle even when everyone in the stands knew he was going to pass on the next play. I was in the 3rd row the night Couch completed a record 7 TD passes and the 7the was at the end of his last series when it was evident Mummie was giving him every chance to get the 7th. Nevertheless, he completed pass after pass.
Boley is the best since Couch and UK has had some very good QB’s during that stretch.
2 more games of experience instead of sitting on the sidelines in game a1 & 2 would make Boley even better heading into Nashville against the best Vandy team ever.
I also believe Boley is the best QB since Couch. Nuff said.
Preach it Professor
I just hope the Cats win out and shuts up all the whiners. Stoops deserves better than what the BBN (Big Boohoo Nation) has given him lately. Go Cats! Go Stoops Troops!
A win would be great Jimmy
I agree Go Cats!! Stoops Troops 2K25!!
Boley will end up breaking all the records if he stays until his senior year which I think and believe he will. He's better than Couch was as a freshman. Next year we will see how much he really improves getting all the first team reps. He still has a very high ceiling. Everyone thinks a QB is supposed to be some strong really mobile QB like Sellers or Lagway. Lagway was actually considered a hesiman candidate before the year started. That fizzled out quick. Next year with 12 senior QBs leading SEC teams which means only 4 will be back next year if they don't transfer to another team. I think Lagway ends up transferring for more money. Maybe Sellers does too for South Carolina. Boley will be the best if not one of the best QBs in the SEC next year. Back to what I was saying if you look at the best of all time Tom Brady. He wasn't a mobile QB. He was skinny he didn't have big muscles. But he was the best QB of all time. Boley is built just like Brady. I would even say Boley is a better runner. What makes Boley really good is he has a very quick mind and a quick release. His release has gotten faster and faster as the year goes on. That's a great sign. Kendrick Law is a violent receiver. He doesn't run his mouth. He doesn't get in the other guys face after making a catch. ( Key and Brown) It used to tick me off. Law will be a NFL draft pick at the end of the year. It would really help his stock if we could win out or win at least one of the last 2. I think Farrier should play over Maclin. Really I think DJ Miller is the best at that position. Plus he's a true freshman. He makes outstanding catches. I hope we can retain him. Cam Miller is also going to be a very good receiver. Quisenberry will be ready next year. Gilmore will be much better next year. He will finally be the age of a usual college freshman. Remember he got here at 16 years old. He's 18 as a sophomore. Next year the game will slow down to him and he will be 19. He will be a 20 year old senior. Next year he will take a major step forward. Rodriguez, and the big Illinois transfer I can't ever think of his name. He's going to be better next year too. He will take over where Kattus left off. Kattus has improved so much this year after a poor performance all last year. He was the worst tight end blocker in college football last year by his PDF score. This year he's one of the best in the SEC. So big turnaround from last year. I think Brock V. Will come out of retirement and will be looking to make some money in the portal. Remember me saying this. Stoops has done a incredible job with this team. They never gave up because he didn't give up. He has the fire and motivation back in him. I'm way more scared of Vanderbilt than I am of Louisville. I think we beat Louisville but idk about Vanderbilt. As you know I've said all year Pavia is the best QB in college football and it's not even close. With the personnel he has he is incredible. He makes everyone around him better. On paper Vanderbilt sucks. Besides Pavia. That's how great he is. Vandy has the worst SEC team on paper and they are playing for a playoff spot. Kentucky would be the ultimate spoiler if we beat Vandy then they beat Tennessee. To go 9-3 and just miss the playoff . I would absolutely love it. If we beat them they will fall out of the top 20. Let's spoil there dreams and hard work.
I'm more excited about football then basketball now again. Basketball they wasted alot of money. Everyone talks about Calzada and the 1.25 million. The thing is we spent more than that in basketball on 2 guys that will redshirt. Nobody talks about that. Giving Hawthorne almost 2 million to chill and watch. They gave Potter almost a million and he averaged 6 ppg at Miami of Ohio. Stoops thought Boley would need more time. There is no way I would trust a QB after his last performance was disastrous. All you have to do is watch the Louisville game from last year and tell me you would trust him to be the starting QB when your job is basically on the line. He got Calzada for insurance in case Boley still wasn't ready and he played like he did the last time he played. Boley is getting better every week. It's coming to the end of his second season in Lexington. His third season will be a joy to watch.
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