Mark Stoops breaks down decision to officially name Cutter Boley as Kentucky starting QB

Coming off a bye-week with a 2-1 record, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has officially named redshirt freshman Cutter Boley as the Wildcats’ starting quarterback heading into Week 4 of the College Football season.

Grad transfer Zach Calzada started the first two games of the season for the ‘Cats but suffered an injury in the fourth quarter of their 30-23 loss to No. 20 Ole Miss. Boley relieved him for the remainder of that game and started in Kentucky‘s 48-23 win over Eastern Michigan. The Hodgenville, KY native completed 12/21 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win.

Stoops discussed the decision to officially name Boley as the starter on Monday. While applauding the young quarterback, he made sure that it was known that this decision comes as no slight to Calzada. Prior to suffering the injury, Calzada completed 47.2% of passes for 234 yards and one interception.

“It is what it is,” Stoops said. “It’s a combination of a lot of things. Zach has not been 100% to this point.

“I think [leadership qualities] come through reps and through time times and authentically. He is definitely a leader and I think it’s always a learning process with a young quarterback as you bring them along. Cutter is very likable and the kids believe in him. They were excited last week, no reflection of Zach or anything because we never want to see that, but players were excited to watch Cutter and see what he could do. They’ll have another opportunity here this week.”

Boley will make fourth career start against South Carolina

The switch to Boley as the starting quarterback breaks a trend that has followed Stoops for the entire duration of his tenure in Lexington. Since four-star recruit Drew Barker opened the season as Kentucky‘s starting quarterback in 2016, the Wildcats have employed the services of a (true) transfer quarterback as their bonafide starter every season since.

2016-17: Stephen Johnson (College of the Desert)
2018, 2020: Terry Wilson (Garden City CC)
2019: Sawyer Smith (Troy)
2021-2022: Will Levis (Penn State)
2023: Devin Leary (NC State)
2024: Brock Vandagriff (Georgia)
2025: Zach Calzada (Incarnate Word)

Boley did play in four games last season and even made two starts in relief of an injured Vandagriff. The ‘Cats were 0-2 in those games, and Boley threw for just 208 yards and three interceptions. He however earned his first win against Eastern Michigan and looks to parlay that success into an upset victory on the road against South Carolina this weekend.