Mark Stoops says Devin Leary is 'earning' leadership with Kentucky

There’s a certain level of leadership that’s expected out of the quarterback position in football. Even so, Mark Stoops is totally okay with Devin Leary, Kentucky’s new QB1 out of the transfer portal, taking a wait-and-see approach in that aspect.

That’s because, from what Stoops said at his spring practice press conference, Leary is waiting to earn it from his new teammates. He is perfectly capable of it when the time comes but, for now, he is focused on doing it the right way as the new man on campus.

“Devin is just waiting to lead. What I mean by waiting is he’s earning it,” explained Stoops. “He’s doing it respectfully. He can take over a room in five minutes but he knows that it’s about going out and proving it day in and day out and not forcing that.”

“I think it’s very important to just be authentic, be who you are but also lead and find your voice at the right time in the right moment,” Stoops said. “I think…it’ll be very easy for him to step into a full command type of position. He’s just that type of guy.”

Leary already has the status that comes with being a senior, especially one that accomplished what he did at NC State. Still, it’s going to be a process to take over the locker room in the spot previously held by Will Levis.

With all that said, Stoops isn’t concerned whatsoever about Leary’s leadership in Lexington. He knows it’ll take time but that’s okay. Once things start to count, he knows his team will have someone to look to under center in Leary.

Stoops says Leary looked ‘really good’ in first practice

Devin Leary tore his right pectoral muscle on Oct. 8 and had surgery nine days later. Less than five months later, the new Kentucky quarterback is throwing in live action during spring practice.

Head coach Mark Stoops evaluated the coveted transfer’s first practice with the Wildcats this spring and said his throwing arm is starting to look back to normal as he nears the end of his recovery.

“Obviously, the transfer everybody’s going to want to talk about with Devin (Leary) and he looked really good, was able to go through basically an entire practice,” Stoops said Monday. “I’m sure that the trainers are watching them and limiting him some but to my eye, it was basically an entire practice. He was just fine and looked really good.

The first chance for Big Blue Nation to see Leary in a Kentucky uniform will be on Saturday, April 1 when the Wildcats hold an open practice outside of the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. The open practice will serve in place for the annual spring game, which the program opted against this offseason.