Cutter Boley flashed arm talent, QB1 potential in looks vs. Texas

Kentucky is past the point of morale wins as the team improved to 4-0 against the spread (ATS) in games against playoff contenders, but they are at a point to build for the future. We got a glimpse of what the future could look like over the past few games as younger players began to receive more snaps. True freshmen Cutter Boley is a player many in Big Blue Nation have been anxiously waiting to see.

You saw playmaking and glimpses of potential in Boley’s first extended game against an SEC team. The four-star prospect led five drives and helped set up four scoring opportunities. Kentucky couldn’t generate points from those drives, but Boley passed the eye test in style.

Each week we recap the three plays that made the biggest difference in the game. We put a twist on this week’s exercise. There were some mistakes by Boley (dropped the shotgun snap, took some bad sacks), but there was also off-script playmaking and some big boy throws.

Let’s see no. 8’s best game of the performance as we head into his first week as Kentucky’s QB1.

Cutter Boley quickly becomes vertical

On Cutter Boley’s first snap of the game, Kentucky goes to a boot concept from under center and the Texas EDGE Trey Moore is ready for it. Boley is unable to throw the football away, setting up a huge second-and-long.

On his second snap against a top-five defense, the young quarterback flashes his big arm on one more go-ball Baryon Brown down the sideline.

The ball travels about 46 air yards and takes advantage of some bad eyes by the Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. This throw was almost a house call, but Boley did a good job of not knocking over his receiver and gave Brown a chance to catch the ball. You’d probably like to see a more aggressive game at the catch point to keep going forward, but it was still a huge game.

Texas didn’t get caught looking inside the rest of the game and had much better coverage on go routes from this point forward, but Boley immediately flashed with his ability to stretch the defense.

Hard against the rush

On the same drive, Kentucky faced a third-and-medium at the Texas 46. Cutter Boley then delivered the best throw of his collegiate career.

Bush Hamdan calls up a trips formation in the field with a pre-snap move for Ja’Mori Maclin into the opening. That move gives the wideout a running start, but Texas brings seven rushers against a seven-man protection. Boley needs to get the ball out quickly. Under pressure, the quarterback makes a beautiful touchdown throw that travels 31 yards while taking a hit.

This play would be countered by a holding call, but Boley showed the ability to withstand the rush and make an accurate throw under pressure. Kentucky has had trouble generating big plays from a muddy pocket. Boley showed a lot with a throw that didn’t count. This type of throw should excite anyone and everyone involved in the program. Big things.

Off-script playmaking

On Kentucky’s third possession of the third quarter, the offense got great field position after one Tre’vonn Rybka forced fumble turned into one Deone Walker fumble recovery. Only at the Texas 32 does Cutter Boley go off script.

The quarterback breaks contain toward the sideline and deliver a small window of speed to the tight end Willie Rodriguez between three Texas defenders. This is a contender for the best throw of the season.

Rodriguez broke off his route in the scramble drill and Boley delivered an absolute dart on the move to set up a goal-to-go possession. Nothing went right after that as the possession ended with a missed field goal, but Boley again showed his arm talent.

The young quarterback flashed with the ability to stretch the field, hit small window throws on the run and stood in the pocket to deliver a touchdown throw on third down. Boley has a strong foundation as a quarterback prospect, and it’s easy to see the high ceiling with the young player.

Kentucky needs someone to build around at quarterback. That’s never happened to a high school prospect in the Mark Stoops era. Maybe Cutter Boley can be the player to change that.