Saunders had Stones in Kentucky Spring Showcase

Stone Saunders is the most prolific prep football passer to ever play in Pennsylvania. He set the state’s passing yards and touchdown records en route to his second state title as a senior.

The freshman Kentucky quarterback has a lot of experience playing at a high level. However, that experience was in a powerhouse program where he was throwing the ball to guys like Alabama WR Rico Scott. He was set up for success in the high school ranks, but how would he react to adversity? We got to see that at the Kentucky Spring Showcase.

Getting quality reps is difficult for freshmen. As Mark Stoops noted after the open practice, it’s hard to rotate five quarterbacks, especially when they were down to five healthy wide receivers in the final days of Kentucky Spring Practice.

“It’s really hard. I had to talk to the quarterbacks because in this scrimmage, we were fine. We got em the reps, but you think about it, where else on this football team are five deep? Quarterbacks need reps. That’s the challenge,” Stoops said.

Saunders Recovered After Rocky Start

When Saunders entered the scrimmage, he looked like a freshman who was battling through nerves in his first appearance in front of fans at Kroger Field. He put too much mustard on his passes, a common theme for a quarterback who just needs to settle down. His first pass was overthrown. On a third and long, he had an open target downfield but missed long again.

Saunders was sent to the sidelines for a few more series, then got his number called for the final drive of the day. The freshman was nails.

He was composed in the pocket and connected on his first attempt to get the drive started with a first down. He found another open receiver downfield for an explosive play to get the Cats into the red zone. It looked like the drive was going to stall at the goal line. The Kentucky offense was knocking on the door, but the defense held that line.

The offense took a timeout before a third and goal from the 2-yard line. Saunders got the ball to Montavin Quisenberry in the flat. The Boyle County receiver initially tipped the ball into the air before securing it and crossing the goal line to end the scrimmage with a touchdown.

Every quarterback in the college ranks has the physical tools to get the ball to athletes. What happens between the ears separates the good from the bad. Saunders fought through adversity to end his debut on a high, a sign of good things to come in the future for the talented young quarterback.

Montavin Quisenberry in motion, Part II.

(📷 @Aaron_Perkins21) pic.twitter.com/qtrrna2MAY

— KSR (@KSRonX) April 12, 2025