Film Room: Cutter Boley

The drought is over. For the first time in a decade, Kentucky has landed a blue-chip quarterback. Cutter Boley is staying home.

The Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy prospect is the No. 39 ranked player in the On3 Industry Ranking and is on pace to be just the fifth top-100 recruit to sign with the Wildcats in the Mark Stoops era. Kentucky brought offensive coordinator Liam Coen back to help fix the program’s issues with QB recruiting and a huge puzzle piece was found after the Cats zeroed in on Boley beating out Tennessee, Penn State, Michigan, and others for the high four-star prospect.

Boley was a significant target for the Kentucky football program for a plethora of reasons. Now that he’s in the boat, UK can begin adding to the roster after a slow start in the 2024 recruiting class. Before getting into the domino effect that the blue-chip quarterback could create, let’s dive into the film to see what type of quarterback Coen is adding to his offense.

Cutter Boley (6-5, 200) is a young prospect with some special physical traits and extremely high upside. Some development is needed, but the tools are there for this local product to potentially develop into a first-round draft pick in Lexington.

Tape shows a big-time QB prospect

The class of 2024 prospect threw for 3,901 yards (63.5% completion rate, 9.8 yards per attempt) and accounted for 42 total touchdowns in 13 games during his first season at Lexington Christian Academy. The blue-chip recruit helped lead his team to the state semifinals in the 2A division and consistently created big plays for the offense.

Much of that was due to his ability to create vertical completions.

On this throw, Boley rips a ball up the seam 40-plus yards that throwing his receiver open, and splits the cornerback and safety. The quarterback can make small window throws and does not need to create a ton of torque in his lower half to create throwing power. Being able to stretch the field is Boley’s best attribute.

However, arm strength is an untapped resource that must be unlocked with timing and accuracy. Boley consistently flashes solid ball placement in both the intermediate and vertical game.

On the go-ball, the quarterback hits his wideout streaking down the sideline 40 yards away with a throw over the shoulder away from the defender. The defender has no chance to make a play due to the ball placement. On the over route, Boley waits for his receiver to get just enough depth to clear the linebackers then does a great job of layering the football over the defender’s head. This is not an easy throw but is delivered with precision and timing. These types of anticipatory throws help raise the ceiling for this toolsy prospect.

At Kentucky, offensive coordinator Liam Coen runs a pro-style system that requires quarterbacks to get under center and complete hard play-action fakes with their back to the defense. The goal of this concept is to get the defense in a bad leverage situation to open things up for vertical shot throws.

Cutter Boley has some experience in this type of action and excelled in it at LCA.

On tape, Boley does a very good job selling play-action fakes and then getting to his launch point. On the double move, the quarterback immediately locates his X receiver off the fake and delivers a vertical throw in stride. Boley will be asked to complete this exact fake and throw at Kentucky. The blue-chipper has the skill set to be an effective play-action field stretcher.

Speaking of arm talent, the way Cutter Boley rips the ball quickly is not all that different than Will Levis. This throw looks like a carbon copy of what we saw at Kentucky the last two seasons with a short, compact release on the out cut.

Locked in QB plan with high upside

Cutter Boley is Kentucky’s first high four-star quarterback recruit since Drew Barker. A case can be made that the Lexington Christian Academy star is the state’s best high school quarterback prospect since Brian Brohm. The Wildcats now have a legit plan at quarterback.

Devin Leary is the guy in 2023. Another transfer is likely needed in 2024. Boley can be the next man up in 2025.

The blue-chip prospect has some physical maturing to do to grow into his frame and did just throw 15 interceptions last season. Decision-making on the field must improve, but the raw tools are undeniable. The quarterback prospect has a big arm, plays with good pace, makes anticipatory throws, and owns good movement skills within the pocket. There will be comps made to Justin Herbert down the road.

Kentucky’s latest commit has first-round upside and is choosing to play in a pro-style scheme that can help get him to the NFL. Development is needed, but Kentucky just landed a lottery ticket with good odds. The Cats have a potential franchise player to build around in the most valuable position in football.

Cutter Boley could be starting games at Kroger Field sooner rather than later.