Stoops Explains Why Cutter Boley is Ready for his First Start vs. Louisville

Cutter Boley got thrown to the wolves at Texas. Facing the second-ranked defense in the nation, in front of 100,000 people while trailing 17 points, the true freshman didn’t flinch. He’s being rewarded with his first career start against Louisville in the Governor’s Cup.

“I thought he just handled himself very well once again. (I) thought he had a lot of poise in the pocket. I thought he distributed the football, had the vision to hit open receivers, the arm strength to get the ball down the field on a second play,” Mark Stoops said Monday.

“You know, you saw a lot of good things, even the play that was called back for a hold. (They brought) an all-out pressure. He gave some ground, threw it to an open area, completed a very difficult pass there. So I thought he did some really good things and he deserves the opportunity to get his start here this week.”

Boley completed 10-18 passes for 160 yards and an interception in the second half of the loss at Texas. Only two other quarterbacks have more passing yards against that Texas defense this year. The Wildcats did not score any points on offense with Boley under center, but they were in scoring position on four out of five drives.

“We have to get into the end zone. We have to put some points on the board,” the young quarterback said after the game.

“I was able to go out there and make some stuff happen, but we have to put some points on the board. If we put some points on the board on a few of those drives, then we’d have a chance to go out there and win that game.”

How Boley Improved Throughout the Year

There’s something different about the way Cutter Boley throws the football. You could see it at Texas or in the game against Murray State. I saw it a few summers ago when he was a rail-thin teenager ripping the ball through the air at a Kentucky football camp. The ball just looks different coming out of the confident young passer’s hands and it raises the level of play for those around him.

“He’s just got that feel. He’s got the moxy,” said Stoops. “He’s the type of guy, he gets along with absolutely everybody on the team. He fits in with everybody. He’s just got a very good personality that way. I think they know he’s got that moxy or swagger, or whatever you want to call it, that when he gets in there, he has a strong belief in himself and, and he sees the field well also.”

Boley will not burn his redshirt in his first career start. It’s just his fourth appearance on the football field this season. He does not regret sitting on the sideline and learning this fall. Mark Stoops can see the significant jump Boley made throughout the 2024 season.

“If you just look at him, the way he’s mentally grown, even physically, the weight that he’s put on and things like that, it doesn’t take you guys long to see how physical and how hard it is to play in this league,” said Stoops.

“I’m not sure there’s a perfect way to do any of that. When a young man’s ready, he’s ready. This is his first start. I feel like he’s ready for that, and I’m excited for him, excited for our team.”

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