Devin Leary gets glowing reviews at SEC Media Days

As you might expect, Devin Leary was a popular topic during Kentucky’s turn at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. Not only does Leary step into some very big shoes left by Will Levis, the NC State quarterback is still a bit of a mystery to the BBN and the SEC. Kentucky elected to take three home-state stars (EDGE J.J. Weaver, OL Eli Cox, and DL Octavious Oxendine) to Nashville instead of Leary, but the trio was asked plenty about their new QB1. The reviews were glowing.

“Man, that’s my twin,” Weaver said of Leary. “We call each other twin. We wear the same jersey, No. 13.”

“With him, he came in as a powerful leader,” Weaver added. “We just lost our quarterback, Will Levis, so that spot was already opened up. In the spring, Devin really opened up a lot. I really didn’t expect him to be a talker like he is, but he’s a talker. Like, he going to tell you what he likes, what he doesn’t like.”

Cox, who shares a huddle with Leary, has also been impressed by his leadership thus far.

“I think his confidence. He’s a very even-keeled player. He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. He’s a very composed player in the pocket and in the huddle.”

Leary, the 2022 ACC Preseason Player of the Year, missed most of last season after tearing a pectoral muscle in NC State’s game vs. Florida State on Oct. 8. In six games in 2022, he was 118-193 (61%) for 1,265 yards, 11 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions. In 2021, he totaled 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Mark Stoops said Leary’s injury is only fueling his fire to get back on the field this season.

“I love the way he goes to work. He has a lot of confidence. He has a chip on his shoulder, which I like. You know, obviously for him, getting his season cut short a year ago with injury didn’t sit well with him. So he’s very anxious to get out there and lead.

“I feel like just the mindset that he has, a tough kid and a Jersey kid, and the way he grew up, he fits right in with our culture.”

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How Leary has improved since arriving at Kentucky

Leary enrolled mid-year and turned in a strong showing at spring practice. Even since then, Oxendine has noticed improvements in his game.

“Just so far I’ve definitely seen huge strides in his footwork and his, like, mentality as far as willing to learn the playbook, getting out there and wanting to play the game of football. He’s a big football guru, but his passion for technique and playbook has definitely taken huge strides.”

After squaring off against him, Weaver has been surprised by Leary’s athleticism.

“His game going to speak for itself, literally,” Weaver said. “The balls he makes in practice are unbelievable. The small, tight windows he throws there. How big I am, he can throw it over my head. He’s fast. I never knew he was that fast either. He’s an athletic dude.”

Keeping Leary healthy is objective No. 1 for Kentucky this season. If the Big Blue Wall does its job, Mark Stoops likes the possibilities for the offense, which returns arguably the best wide receiver room in program history and a deep and talented tight end corps. The Cats also added Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis, a 1,000+ yard rusher at Vanderbilt last season.

“He’s been extremely accurate,” Stoops said of Leary. “He’s one of those guys that maybe a year ago at times would completely wow you with his arm ability and the strength that he has.

“Devin is the type of guy that can make all the throws, but he’ll also put it in some spots or throw it and layer it in some spots that will wow you. Been impressed, and excited to see him continue to grow.”

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