Kentucky lands Notre Dame QB Kenny Minchey as replacement for Cutter Boley
New Kentucky football coach Will Stein did not wait long to pivot in his search for a starting quarterback after it became apparent top-ranked transfer Sam Leavitt was likely headed to LSU.
Multiple reports emerged Monday night that former Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey has signed with Kentucky despite first committing to Nebraska over the weekend. Despite playing only sparingly in three years at Notre Dame, Minchey was ranked as the ninth-best quarterback in the portal by ESPN.
A former four-star recruit, Minchey completed 23 of 29 passes for 212 yards in 10 appearances across three seasons at Notre Dame. The Hendersonville, Tennessee. native lost a close competition with redshirt freshman CJ Carr for the Notre Dame starting quarterback job in August then appeared in six games as Carr’s backup.
With Carr set to return to Notre Dame in 2026, Minchey entered the transfer portal in search of a starting opportunity.
Nebraska immediately targeted Minchey to replace quarterback Dylan Raiola, who had entered the portal. Minchey committed to Nebraska Sunday but apparently changed his mind just a day later as Stein and Kentucky broadened their search for a quarterback.
The Wildcats hosted Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, the top-ranked available transfer according to 247Sports, shortly after the transfer portal opened Friday. Leavitt spent most of the weekend in Lexington but left without committing. He was first reported to be planning a visit to Texas Tech, but after the Red Raiders secured a commitment from Cincinnati quarterback transfer Brendan Sorsby elected to visit LSU on Monday instead.
With buzz growing that Leavitt would pick LSU, Stein was forced to consider other options. Minchey lacks the experience of many of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the portal but boasts the type of physical tools that could turn him into a star in the right offense.
Last season, Notre Dame backup quarterback Steve Angeli shined after transferring to Syracuse (before a season-ending injury). His performance likely increased interest in Minchey from other programs.
“Minchey has appeared in just 10 games over the past three seasons, but he’s flashed ability with a strong arm and good mobility,” ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill wrote in his scouting report for Minchey. “He can drop the ball into receivers running go routes and throw hole balls working against two-high looks. Minchey can extend plays and make off-platform throws. He’s an instinctive runner with enough speed to break explosive runs. Limited experience, but physically gifted with the upside to become a quality player.”
The Athletic ranked him 13th among available transfer quarterbacks but cited similar glowing reviews in its breakdown.
“Scouts love what Minchey offers: a strong arm, a quick release and the mobility to create outside the structure of an offense,” The Athletic wrote. “He showed all those things in the snaps he got, along with a natural feel for the position.”
In targeting Minchey, Stein appears to be taking a similar gamble that former Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen took when he signed Penn State backup quarterback Will Levis as a transfer prior to the 2021 season. After two years at Kentucky, Levis was selected in the second round of the NFL draft.
Stein has a proven track record turning transfer quarterbacks into NFL draft picks after coaching Bo Nix, Dillion Gabriel and Donta Moore at Oregon. UK offensive coordinator Joe Sloan was also the quarterbacks coach for 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels at LSU.
None of those quarterbacks were considered surefire stars when they transferred to Oregon. Moore in particular was considered a question mark after a middling freshman season at UCLA. Now, he is projected as a possible No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
With just one quarterback on the current roster, Kentucky will likely sign another transfer at the position to pair with Minchey.
Elon quarterback Landen Clark reportedly visited UK over the weekend. Clark, who has three years of eligibility left, is viewed as a backup option for 2026 with the chance to develop into a starter down the road.
Clark completed 56% of his passes for 2,321 yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions for Elon. He also rushed for 614 yards and 11 scores. He has also been linked to James Madison and LSU, signalling he will also have a choice between a likely power conference backup role or Group of Five starter.
Minchey is the sixth transfer to choose Kentucky since the portal opened, joining linebacker Tavion Wallace (Arkansas), edge rusher Antonio O’Berry (Gardner Webb), cornerback Hasaan Sykes (Western Carolina), defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux (LSU) and center Coleton Price (Baylor).
This story was originally published January 5, 2026 at 9:53 PM.