Mark Stoops praises Devin Leary’s progression as leader, ability to make difficult plays

The big discussion point during Kentucky spring practices is the progression of Devin Leary with the Wildcats system and team. While Leary has a healthy track record of success at NC State, there is always anticipation when a new quarterback arrives in town.

Kentucky held an open spring practice over this past weekend. Head coach Mark Stoops was asked about Leary throwing some darts in close range during the practice, which Stoops equated to the weather.

“I think you saw that today partly with the wind and getting the ball out quick,” Stoops said. “They were tight windows. I thought early on the completion he made to [Tayvion Robinson], there wasn’t a big window there. I was standing right behind it. It didn’t look open at all. It was a really nice throw. He throw it the only place it could be caught and T Rob made a nice catch and got some yards afterwards but those those had some zip on it. But if you floated them today, I don’t think you were gonna complete anything.”

Leary spent five year with the Wolfpack. He redshirted his freshman year in 2018. Leary was the backup to start the next year but started the last five games of the season.

Over the next three years, Leary was QB1 for NC State. But he only played one 12-game season during those three years due to injuries. During the game he did play, he was 17-5.

His one healthy season in 2021, he threw 35 touchdowns against only five interceptions.

While those skills are expected to translate to the field come the fall, his leadership skills are a bigger question mark. Not because of anything about him, just because it can be difficult for a new face to come in and take ownership of a room.

But it sounds like Leary has already made in-roads in completing this task and earning himself a leadership role.

“He’s a very natural leader,” Stoops said. “He’s trying not to force it. He’s trying to earn the respect of his team and just get out there and make sure he masters his craft in his backyard at this point. But definitely has the leadership skills and he does a lot of things behind the scenes that it doesn’t have to be vocal. He spends an awful lot of time with the group with the wide receivers, the running backs and different groups watching films, spending time with him. He’s doing a lot of extra.