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Even before he made Cutter Boley the starting quarterback this season, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops was calling him the “future” of the UK football program.
Boley led UK to three straight wins, including Southeastern Conference wins over Auburn and Florida, before the wheels came off in last week’s loss at Vanderbilt. Boley was even briefly knocked out of the game before returning to finish the game and throwing two touchdown passes.
Stoops had his weekly call-in radio show on Monday and made it sound like Boley, a redshirt freshman who has thrown for 2,060 yards and 15 touchdowns, had already decided he would definitely be back at UK for next season.
“We have a good nucleus of guys — and it’s certainly important to get that QB, you know?” Stoops told Tom Leach on the radio show. “It’s great to have a young QB.
“Cutter’s been nothing but all in and loving Kentucky. He wants to be here, and we just have to make sure we build a good team around him.”
Boley has been a lifelong Kentucky fan, one reason he chose UK over many big-time offers he received coming out of Lexington Christian Academy. He redshirted in 2024, and many thought he would start this season, but Stoops went with transfer Zach Calzada to open the season, and it was a disaster before Boley took over an anemic offense.
Boley has completed 67.3 percent of his passes — 71.7 percent in the last six games — going into Saturday’s game at Louisville, and is within range of the second-best single-season completion record at Kentucky. His 12 touchdown passes against SEC opponents broke Jared Lorenzen’s record for most by a Kentucky freshman (11) set in 2000. He also became the only UK freshman since Lorenzen to throw for 280 yards or more in an away game.
However, Boley has not guaranteed he will be back next season and probably should be worried about Louisville, not the 2026 season. Numerous teams would definitely be interested in adding Boley to their roster, and he needs to know who will be coaching at Kentucky — both the head coach and the offensive coordinator — and who will be protecting him on the offensive line as well as catching passes he throws.
Loyalty is a great thing, and Boley stayed loyal to UK when he did not transfer after one season. But he has to balance what his heart says about staying at Kentucky with what his head might tell him about where his best chance to win games might be after he has all the information about the Kentucky coaching staff and roster in 2026.
Do I think he will leave Kentucky? Not saying that. Just saying he may need some time when the season ends to evaluate his options and then make the best decision for his future.
16 Responses
The best decision for his future would be to transfer to Vanderbilt, but where does Cutter really want to play? He is assured of being the starter for the Cats next year, but his future for football would be better served at Vandy and they need a starting quarterback.
You’re exactly right, as sad as it is.
If Vandy fires (just kidding!) their successful HC & OC, do you think Boley would ask them to hire Stoops & the OC & OL coach if they Boley would agree to go to Vandy. I don’t think so!
I would like for him to stay, but I think, for his future, he needs to listen to what other teams have to offer; and not just money. On the right team, Boley has a shot at winning a National Championship and possibly be in consideration for the Heisman. Those things cannot be overlooked and they are not happening at UK.
The other thing that cannot be overlooked is he is currently at a place where the coach would jump at the chance to leave. The turnover on the entire team is ridiculous; players and coaches. He also needs to look at the fact it took an injury to even get him on the field. If Calzada had not gotten hurt, Boley would still be sitting on the bench, not matter what the teams record was.
Your heart will lie to you anytime it can.
OF……chance for national championship and Heisman consideration…really? You might be imbibing a couple days early. He has played well for cast around him but not quite at the level you are touting. We still need regime change of coaching staff if we end up 5-7.
Name another Freshman QB that is completing over 70% of their passes.
He is also playing behind a stitched together OL, has a terrible OC, only has a 1 or 2 receivers that are even close to being consistent, and a run game that doesn't show up against stiff competition.
Upgrade those 4 areas and there is no telling what he could really do. He is already way ahead of anyone else in his class.
Right on all counts! Boley is in the same spot Couch was at Cleveland as the #1 pick in the draft – he was beaten up because of no OL and Cleveland was short of average players, much less really good players
The UK players are doing all they can with the absence of really good coaching, so Boley is facing a big decision if the OC remains
I want him to stay (and get a new HC & a lot of staff) but it’s not a perfect world when an AD can give away lottery money without needing a ticket and no accountability from the lazy administrators.
Real fans wouldn't for their future star QB to go to another team. Geez…. unbelievable!
You don't read very well.
I said I would like his to stay. I was just pointing out the factors he will have to face at the end of the season. Even with that, you know as well as I do that if Stoops is still the coach, decent is the best he can do. If Hamdan stays, I don't know if anything above mediocre is attainable.
You don't read well. Read what Barry said at the top.
"wish"
As usual, always worrying about what "somebody else is saying" instead of just making your own points……oh yea, I forgot y'all: JIMMY IS ALWAYS RIGHT–AND THE REST OF US R ALWAYS WRONG!! AND JIMMY IS A TRUE FAN, AND WE ARE NOT!! AND ITS BASED ON WHAT WE SAY, AND WHAT OUR OPINIONS ARE–NOT BASED ON HOW MANY GAMES WE HAVE ALL GONE TO, NOT HOW MUCH TIME, ENERGY, AND MONEY WE HAVE ALL INVESTED IN THESE PROGRAMS, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO US–GOSH ALMIGHTY, READ THE ROOM Y'ALL, WHAT IS WRONG WITH Y'ALL??? GET IT TOGETHER–ITS ALL ABOUT JIMMY!!!
Big Boohoo Nation 😫
Stay home and watch it on TV. You haven't done anymore than I have and I don't whine about it.
Cutter could stay and help build a team. That's pretty heady stuff for a kid his age.
Hard to build a team on a sinking ship. Everyone knows Stoops would jump at his first chance to leave and that doesn't even consider all the down side to his coaching. Look at our recruiting class coming in. Smallest in years and ranked something like 75th, that means dead last in the SEC by a bunch.
Stoops has created the mess and I don't think he can clean it up.
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