Mark Stoops Prepared to Build Around Cutter Boley

The first career start for Cutter Boley did not go according to plan. Despite a disappointing performance, Mark Stoops believes the Kentucky football program can build around the homegrown talent.

“I have a lot of confidence in Cutter. I mean, we got to make sure we build a very good team around him. We got to make sure we have strong competition,” Stoops said in his postgame press conference.

“Gavin (Wimsatt) really stepped in there today and looked very impressive at times, so I feel good about that.”

Boley did not look like the player who slung the ball around for 160 yards in the second half at Texas. He played like you might expect a true freshman to play in a rivalry game. His first four passes were incomplete. His sixth was an interception. He threw one more pick in the end zone just before halftime. Boley’s day was ended prematurely by what appeared to be a head injury following a targeting penalty, completing 6-15 passes for 48 yards.

Even though it’s definitely not the day Boley envisioned when he was named the starter, Bush Hamdan does not believe the young quarterback will be too discouraged by this performance.

“There’s a lot of trust built up throughout the year with him. There’s no magic dust, if you will. There’s nothing you can necessarily go and say to somebody,” said the Kentucky offensive coordinator. “He’s a confident player. He always has been. He understands that it’s just getting back on track, getting back to work, and as the hardest position in sports, you gotta have a short-term memory and I know he’ll bounce back.”

Gavin Wimsatt stepped in for almost the entire second half and dialed up a couple of deep balls to Ja’Mori Maclin. The North Texas transfer had two touchdowns and accounted for 121 of Wimsatt’s 125 passing yards.

Brock Vandagriff was dressed on the sideline, but it did not appear that Kentucky’s starter for the first 11 games of the season was available for the season finale. Mark Stoops clarified that Vandagriff is not injured. It’s also pretty easy to read between the lines on what’s next for Brock.

“I’ll let Brock discuss that,” said Stoops. “He and I’ve had our conversations, and it’s not for me to talk to you about what Brock wants to do.”

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