Cutter Boley will get his opportunity to be QB1 but it might have to wait until 2026

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Kentucky QB Zach Calzada at spring practice, via Aaron Perkins KSR

Before Matt Ponatoski, there was Cutter Boley. The Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy product was a massive recruiting win for the Kentucky football program in the 2024 high school cycle. The four-star recruit gave the program a potential long-term answer at quarterback.

But we are still playing the waiting game.

Despite earning a start last season and playing well against Texas, Cutter Boley is entering his redshirt freshman season without high expectations. Why is that? Kentucky wants to make sure the young quarterback is ready before they hand him the keys to the program.

Kentucky went swimming in the transfer portal waters again in the offseason at quarterback. Zach Calzada will spend his final season in college football at UK after time spent at Texas A&M (2019-21), Auburn (2022), and Incarnate Word (2023-24). Head coach Mark Stoops is not ready to officially name a starter but the expectation is that Calzada will begin the season as QB1 in Lexington.

“I think the fact that we had a local young quarterback on campus that we certainly feel is the future,” Stoops told reporters at SEC Media Days when asked about the recruitment of Calzada. “When that time is, I’m not sure. Whether it’s next week, two weeks, three weeks, next season, next year, I’m not sure.”

The plan right now is for Zach Calzada to take over as the starter this fall. At some point, Cutter Boley will be this program’s starting quarterback. For now, UK is hopeful that the experience of the multi-time transfer will help the offense move the chains and score points this season.

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“He won big games in the SEC. Has a ton of experience under his belt,” Stoops said. “Has a chip on his shoulder. Wants to come back and prove that.”

The former SEC quarterback started his career at Texas A&M in 2019 and sat for two years before getting a starting opportunity as a redshirt sophomore in 2021. The Georgia native made 10 starts for the Aggies and passed for 2,185 yards and 17 touchdowns. Calzada entered the portal after the season and landed at Auburn where a shoulder injury caused him to miss the season. The quarterback then resurfaced at Incarnate Word where he threw for 3,791 yards in 2024.

Kentucky has a clear plan at quarterback. The program enters the 2025 season feeling good about their top two options but will not throw Cutter Boley into the spotlight before he is 100 percent ready.