Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops says the Wildcats’ quarterback competition is shaping up as one of the most important storylines of fall camp.
Speaking at a Monday event in Louisville, Stoops praised the leadership and experience of transfer Zach Calzada, while also highlighting the promise of redshirt freshman Cutter Boley.
“Zach Calzada is a transfer, a sixth-year player. I really like his experience,” Stoops said when asked about the quarterback battle. “He’s been around a long time. He’s played
in this league. He’s won big games. He was the starting quarterback at Texas A&M years ago under Jimbo (Fisher). Won a bunch of critical games there. Had an injury, bounced around a little bit, but the big thing is his experience. He’s a big guy. He can make all the throws. He has a strong arm. And he’s in a battle with Cutter Boley.”
Calzada, who began his career at Texas A&M before transferring to Auburn and later Incarnate Word, enters his final season looking to secure one more starting job. His background gives Kentucky a reliable option behind center as the program adjusts to a new offensive system, but Stoops made clear that Boley is very much in the mix and viewed as the long-term answer at quarterback.
“Cutter is a guy that’s a redshirt freshman that we all anticipate is the future of this program,” Stoops said. “When that happens, I don’t know. But Zach has been very steady and very good through camp. As has Cutter.”
Calzada should still be seen as the favorite to start Week 1 vs. Toledo, but it’s clear that Boley is making enough of a push that the veteran will have to play well throughout the season or risk losing his job to the young gun.
Do you believe Calzada will start every game this season?
