Devin Leary coming along as Kentucky football's "natural leader"

In a sense, Devin Leary has been tossed into the fire this spring.

The NC State transfer is replacing a likely first-round NFL Draft pick and coming into an offense that has a new(ish) offensive coordinator. The fifth-year quarterback has also been recovering from a torn pectoral that he suffered in Week 6 of his 2022 season with the Wolfpack and was only recently deemed healthy enough to participate in spring practice. It’s taken him some time to adjust to the new environment, but Kentucky’s signal-caller is quickly coming along both on and off the field.

“I think he’s a very natural leader,” UK head coach Mark Stoop said of Leary after the conclusion of Saturday’s open practice. “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 at this point. But definitely has the leadership skills. And he does a lot of things behind the scenes that doesn’t have to be vocal. He spends an awful lot of time with the group, with the wide receivers, the running backs, different groups watching film, spending time with them. So he’s doing a lot of extra.”

Despite the windy conditions and limited reps, Leary looked impressive during Saturday’s practice, which was open to the public in place of the annual Spring Game. Leary and the 1s ran just 23 snaps, according to Stoops, but he showcased plenty of skill in that time that should have the Big Blue Nation looking forward to what he’ll bring to the field this fall.

“I thought Devin looked good on the RPO with some of the quick game, connecting early on and moving the football,” Stoops added.

Leary converted on some tough throws on Saturday in spite of the poor weather, dropping a down-field dime on the shoulder of rising sophomore Dane Key and lasering a rocket into a tight pocket that only Tayvion Robinson could snag. On the latter throw, Stoops said he couldn’t even see the window that Leary eyed when he completed the pass to Robinson. Leary’s ball always has some “zip” on it.

Playmakers: @DevinLeary1 ➡️ @DaneKey6 pic.twitter.com/Y64Wmc79w2

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 1, 2023

Even though Leary has only been with the program for a few months, he’s building relationships with his receivers that are already paying off on the gridiron. Saturday was a prime example of that connection. But it’s not just the people he’s throwing the ball to, though. Leary is doing everything he can to establish himself as Kentucky football’s most recognizable face and defacto leader.

“Devin is always in the locker room. He’s always joking with somebody,” Key said on Saturday. “He just wants to start building that bond with everybody. I asked him the other day because it took me a while to learn everybody’s name on the team, but Devin’s got it down. He knows almost everybody on the team… So just Devin taking on that leadership role, doing the little things, and learning everybody’s name in the facility, you can see what he’s trying to do with this team.”

Taking control of the reins from Will Levis was always going to be a tough task for Leary, but he appears to be on the right path to making it a smooth transition for the ‘Cats.