Greg McElroy believes in Devin Leary hype, questions durability

Kentucky found quite the replacement for Will Levis at quarterback with the addition of Devin Leary as the No. 2 QB in the transfer portal. Now, if he remains healthy, Greg McElroy believes UK will have one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC.

McElroy deemed Leary as the SEC’s fifth best quarterback in a recent episode of ‘Always College Football’. He pointed to health as an obvious concern but that his accomplishments from his time in Raleigh are very hard to ignore.

“If this guy were always healthy? The conversation about him might be a little different,” McElroy said. “Can he stay healthy? That’s the big question. Broke his leg in 2020, tore his pec last year. Both cut his season a little bit short.”

“But if you look at the year in 2021 when he was a full-time starter? Some of the things he was able to pull off? He set the school record for touchdown passes. Remember, this is the same school that Phillip Rivers came from. 35 touchdown passes. Phillip Rivers’ best year? 34,” continued McElroy. “He had also thrown 228 passes without an interception. So not only is he able to fit the ball in tight windows (but) he makes good decisions. He’s not putting the ball in harm’s way. He will take some risks. Without question. But he knows what he can get away with, he knows what he can’t get away with. That was the longest streak in the FBS that season.”

Leary left NC State with over 6,800 passing yards and 62 touchdowns on a 58.7% completion rate. That run was highlighted by the junior year that McElroy pointed to where he threw for career-highs in yards (3,433), touchdowns (35), and completion percentage (65.7%).

Not everything about Kentucky’s program is conducive for Leary to succeed in Lexington this fall. Even so, the return of offensive coordinator Liam Coen has McElroy very interested in how he could potentially excel in UK’s offense.

“Devin Leary is the real deal. He just has to stay healthy. And, last year, the concern for me with Kentucky was the offensive line. The offensive line was, at times, a turn style. But, in the past, Kentucky has had a terrific offensive line,” said McElroy. “In comes Liam Coen. He’s back after a year with the Los Angeles Rams, he’s back to Kentucky. Hopefully he can kind of reintegrate some of those concepts they used successfully two years ago when he was the OC and Will Levis had a tremendous year.”

Considering all things, Kentucky will take health being the biggest concern for their newest QB1. As long as they can keep him off the injury report, McElroy thinks the Wildcat’s addition of Leary could pay dividends by the end of the 2023 campaign.

“Devin Leary, based on availability, is of concern. But, if he is out there, the ability is unquestioned.”