Zach Calzada Returns to Kentucky Football Practice

We’re only three weeks into the 2025 Kentucky football season, and we have a full-blown quarterback controversy, one that also features a weird injury twist.

It did not look like Kentucky was going to pull the trigger and give Cutter Boley a try against Ole Miss until Zach Calzada winced following a fourth-down incompletion. He suffered an undisclosed injury to his throwing shoulder, putting the offense in Boley’s hands for the final two drives.

In the days since the loss to Ole Miss, Mark Stoops has been reluctant to share much about the quarterback position. He was critical of Calzada’s performance, and also eager to say that Boley will have an opportunity to play against Eastern Michigan, but unwilling to say who will start the game.

Taking the lead from his boss, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan did not divulge too many details about who will get the starting assignment against Eastern Michigan, but he did reveal that Calzada returned to practice after missing Monday’s.

“He’s a tough competitor,” said the Kentucky offensive coordinator.

“We’re in position to have both guys ready to go with equal practice reps and getting them both ready to go. We know we got to play better at all levels, and so both those guys will be ready to go.”

Boley completed 1-3 passes in limited snaps against Ole Miss, with an explosive play to Hardley Gilmore for 38 yards. Hamdan acknowledged that Boley has been put in tough positions when his number is called. He wants to see how the quarterback reacts in a more normal offensive setting.

“That’s the tough part for a guy like Cutter in his situation, he’s an extremely talented player. So much of it is the outside noise — should you have gotten this, should you — and then he gets thrown in the game. You’re in a situation where you got to go in and produce. And so for him, that’s the number one thing as a young quarterback, it’s be ready when your time is called. He’s got a great opportunity play this week. We’re we’re going to be in there all day and night with him and making sure that he’s prepared and knows what he’s got to get done and put the best plan together for him and Zach,” said Hamdan.

Boley has one career start under his belt, and it was a disappointing performance against Louisville. He’s grown quite a bit since last November, particularly his comfort in the pocket and command in the offense. When No. 8 gets called on Saturday, there’s one goal.

“I’m going to get out there and let it rip, that’s for sure,” said Boley.

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