Tim Couch wants to be 'resource' for Cutter Boley

Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy product Cutter Boley was a ballyhooed quarterback prospect who decided to stay home and sign with Kentucky. Whenever that happens, there is one comp that is immediately going to come up. You better be ready to have you name associated with Tim Couch.

The former star recruit out of Hyden (Ky.) Leslie County is now a class of 2024 College Football Hall of Fame member. During his three years at the University of Kentucky from 1996-98, Couch re-wrote the school and SEC’s passing record books playing for head coach Hal Mumme and offensive coordinator Mike Leach in their Air Raid scheme. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft is arguably the most popular player to ever play at Kentucky.

In this case, Couch and Boley already have an established relationship. The class of 2024 signee played with Couch’s son, Chase, at LCA. The old Kentucky quarterback wants to be a sounding board for the new Kentucky quarterback.

“I got to know Cutter really well. He played with my son the last couple years at LCA,” Couch told the media on Tuesday. “Got to know him and his family. He’s got great parents who give him great advice. I’ve certainly helped Cutter on some things and will continue to help him and want to be a resource for him whenever I can. I know that I’ve certainly walked in his shoes and I know exactly what he’s going through him being a home state kid and deciding to come play ball here. Turned down a lot of other opportunities. I know the pressure that comes with that. I can definitely help him figure out to walk the line on some of those things and dealing with the pressures and the media. You teammates expect a lot out of you. He’s a very high profile player.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

The expectations are big for Cutter Boley. Kentucky has yet to develop a high school recruit into a permanent starting quarterback during the Mark Stoops era. Many believe that Boley can be the player that ends that trend. However, there is obvious pressure that comes with that. Couch understands that pressure as he faced even higher expectations when he picked Kentucky over Tennessee. The famous alum is willing to be a sounding board for the latest in-state blue-chip recruit to sign with the blue and white.

“There’s just things you gotta do when you come in with that name tag as a quarterback. He’s one of the highest recruited quarterbacks that we’ve had here,” Couch said. “He’s just gotta come in and be one of the guys and work hard and earn respect from the other guys and earn his spot on the field.”

Boley will get to work instantly as an early enrollee. The true freshman and Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff are the only two scholarship quarterbacks in offensive coordinator Liam Coen‘s position room. There will also be some NIL deals coming for Boley, but I’m not sure they would reach Tim Couch levels had NIL been around back in the 90s.

“I was telling my brother the other day that I think if NIL was around I think I would’ve had to take a pay cut to go to the NFL,” joked Couch.