Herald-Leader poll shows UK fans are ready for Cutter Boley. Now he gets a big test
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- UK named Cutter Boley starting quarterback ahead of matchup at South Carolina
- Boley earned fan support after strong 240-yard, 2-touchdown start vs EMU
- Gamecocks' defense poses test for Boley with standout tacklers and edge rush
Last week, we asked you to vote for who you felt should start at quarterback when Kentucky football (2-1, 0-1 SEC) plays at South Carolina on Saturday.
You answered — and it just so happens that Mark Stoops and Co. agreed with you; the program listed redshirt freshman Cutter Boley at the top of the depth chart Monday morning ahead of the Wildcats’ road trip.
Boley started the Wildcats’ last game, a 48-23 win over Eastern Michigan on Sept. 13, after replacing injured starter Zach Calzada in the fourth quarter of a Sept. 6 loss to Ole Miss. Though Calzada dressed for the Eastern Michigan game, it was in a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation.
Seventh-year senior Calzada “has not been at 100% to this point,” Stoops said, and that was one of “a combination of a lot of things” that led Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan to elevate Boley to QB1.
“It’s been exciting,” Boley said. “This has kind of been something I’ve been waiting for my whole life, and I’ve just gotta do the best job I can and take this opportunity and run with it. Just try to do the most with the opportunities I get and do the best I can with Coach Hamdan’s plan and offense.”
The 183 fans who participated in a Herald-Leader poll overwhelmingly supported Boley as the UK starter, with 175 of them (94%) casting their vote for him with 11 (6%) in favor of Calzada, provided he was healthy.
“Boley needs to start because of his presence in the pocket, stronger arm, great accuracy, appears more comfortable, quicker to get plays off, and throws lasers,” UK fan Jeremiah Hess wrote in an email in response to the poll.
Others were more blunt, with responses like “Don’t know why there’s even a question” (Ronald Isham on X) and “this even being a question is pretty hilarious for anyone who has eyes and has watched the games so far this year” (@JDHmac2418 on X).
Inside the building, tight ends Josh Kattus and Willie Rodriguez — Boley’s roommates — see him as ready for the opportunity against the Gamecocks.
“I’m very excited about him,” Kattus said. “I think he’s had a great first two days of practice, he’s embracing it. We had the crowd noise out there today, so we kind of got to get ready for that ‘Sandstorm,’ and it’s gonna be a lot of fun. I’ve talked to him a lot, obviously, because he’s my roommate, and I know he’s ready for the challenge.”
“Same Cutter,” Rodriguez said. “He’s not gonna change. He’s prepared. He’s ready for this. The whole entire time, that’s how he’s always prepared. So, I mean, same vibe. Still hanging out the same. It’s still all the same. Just maybe going over the plays a little bit extra.”
After a freshman season completion percentage of 49.1% (26 of 53) in appearances against Florida (0 for 6), Murray State (10 of 14), Texas (10 of 18) and Louisville (6 of 15), Boley’s number was called for the first time this season after Calzada’s injury; against Ole Miss, Boley completed 1 of 3 passing attempts for a total of 38 yards and rushed for 14 yards on four carries.
Boley’s start against Eastern Michigan (1-3) — which eked out its first win of the year last weekend against Louisiana after losses to Texas State, UK and FCS program Long Island University — was the most successful performance of his college career. Against the Eagles, Boley completed 12 of 21 passing attempts for 240 yards, threw for two touchdowns and no interceptions.
South Carolina will mark Boley’s third career start, his second of the season.
The Lexington Christian graduate spoke to the importance of moving the ball, completion by completion. As much as “every quarterback loves throwing it downfield,” he said, the goal is to “stay in a flow, get in a rhythm.”
“They’ve got a lot of good dudes all over the field,” Boley said of South Carolina. “They’ve got a lot of athletes, but those two edge defenders are really good players. They’ve got a lot of good dudes on the back end, too. Overall, they’re a really good squad, but I think we’re putting together a really good plan.”
Despite several injuries suffered across the Gamecock defense this season, the group still poses a significant challenge for an inexperienced Boley and the UK offense.
South Carolina sophomore edge rusher Dylan Stewart’s name came up multiple times in UK media availabilities this week. Stewart has two sacks and 17 tackles this season. He’s one of five Gamecocks — joining linebacker Fred Johnson (20 tackles), defensive back Jalon Kilgore (19), defensive back DQ Smith (18) and linebacker Justin Okoronkwo (17) — among the top 40 in the SEC in total tackles.
“You can’t stand there and wait forever to throw something downfield and force something if it’s not there,” Boley said, noting that’s true against any defense. “There’s just kind of an internal shot clock I have. My feet start to talk to me, or you just kind of feel pressure, too. That’s just kind of a feel thing, just moving around the pocket and finding guys and knowing when to hit the checkdowns, and when not to.”
Boley said he is better set up for success on Saturday because of the strength of his offensive line, led by veteran leaders like Lexington native Jager Burton and transfers Josh Braun, Shiyazh Pete and Alex Wollschlaeger.
“They give me a ton of confidence,” Boley said. “I tell those guys nonstop to keep talking to me. ‘Just keep talking to me, whatever it is, whatever you think, whatever you feel out there. I don’t care if it’s the littlest thing in the world, come to me and talk to me about it.’ I’m just trying to get on the same page, all that chemistry together.”
Boley said communication has played a significant role in the offense so far this season and said he has improved as a vocal leader on the field.
“Talking,” Boley said. “Communicating everything. What are you feeling? What are you seeing? How do you feel about this? How do you feel about that? Just everything. How it’s looking when it’s out there. I think we’ve done a really good job communicating within the offensive unit. On everything, really.”
Boley, who Hamdan said prepares each week as though he’s always the starter, has focused hard throughout the two weeks leading up to South Carolina.
He’s raring to go, but Boley said he doesn’t “really believe” in rituals on game day.
“.I’m gonna wake up, I’m gonna go through the schedule and I’m gonna be really confident in the plan,” he said. “That’s really the only thing. Maybe go through my call sheet and stuff like that.”
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM.
