by LARRY VAUGHT
Former Kentucky football player Jeff Piecoro believes there are two players that new UK football coach Will Stein has to do all he can to keep on the roster to help lead his first UK team in 2026.
“I think Cutter Boley is the future,” Piecoro, the UK Radio Network analyst, said about the redshirt freshman quarterback. “He doesn’t get rattled. The players love him. My quarterback (at UK) was Bill Ransdell and he earned your respect with his toughness. Cutter is the same way. He took a shot against Vanderbilt and the next series he is back in there ready to go even though the game was out of hand.
“Players respect a quarterback who does that. Plus, Cutter got better this season. He’s going to keep getting better, too. The one thing Kentucky finally has is a home-grown quarterback and to me, quarterback is the least of your worries for next year and I know Stein has to think he can make him an even better player.”
Boley completed 198 of 301 passes in 11 games for 2,160 yards. He had five touchdown passes against Tennessee and 12 scoring passes against in 12 SEC games. He was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team. He completed 65.8 percent of his passes, a UK freshman record for completion percentage.
Junior all-SEC safety Ty Bryant led the Kentucky defense with 76 tackles, including 46 solo stops, last season. He also led the team in interceptions with four and ranked among the Southeastern Conference leaders all season in interceptions. He’s already played in 37 games in three years and made 22 starts to establish himself as the quarterback of the UK defense.
“He is one of the leaders of the defense. Since he got to UK, he has played. He is a personable young man, a great player and a terrific leader,” Piecoro said. “Whenever a new coach comes in, you have got to establish leaders on the team and they help you get through what is going on.
“None of these players know anything about Will as a coach. It’s very important for those leaders to step forward and help the coach. I think both Cutter and Ty are must keep players. There are a lot of good young players on both offense and defense and they are the leaders you need to help build your team if you are Will Stein.”
