Kentucky Football Might Not Need a Star-It Might Need a Point Guard
Right now, Kentucky football has something every program in the country wants: a talented, homegrown quarterback with upside. Cutter Boley is already on campus, and he’s surrounded by coaches who know how to develop quarterbacks at the highest level. Head coach Will Stein helped turn Bo Nix into a Heisman finalist at Oregon, while new offensive coordinator Joe Sloan just coached Jayden Daniels through one of the most efficient and explosive seasons the SEC has ever seen.
On paper, it’s the kind of setup a blue-chip quarterback dreams about. But this is college football in 2025.
The portal is always open, and Boley has been upfront-he’s going to evaluate his options. If he leaves, Kentucky can’t afford to be caught scrambling.
And that’s where the conversation is already starting to drift off course.
Forget the Stars-Focus on the Fit
The moment a quarterback spot even might open up at a place like Kentucky, the usual names start flying around. Former five-stars.
Big-brand backups. Guys who didn’t win the job at Georgia or Ohio State or Texas.
Already, you’re hearing buzz about DJ Lagway, Brendan Sorsby, Dylan Raiola-quarterbacks with big résumés and even bigger expectations.
But that’s the old way of thinking.
Will Stein’s offense isn’t built around cannon arms or recruiting stars. It’s built around rhythm, timing, and efficiency.
This system lives in the short and intermediate game, thrives on staying ahead of the chains, and leans on playmakers to do the heavy lifting after the catch. You don’t need someone who can throw it 70 yards off-platform.
You need someone who can hit the easy throws 70% of the time.
So if Boley enters the portal, Kentucky shouldn’t be chasing the flashiest name available. They should be looking for a quarterback who plays like a point guard-someone who can distribute, stay on schedule, and let the offense work.
They should be looking at someone like Jaden Craig.
The Case for Jaden Craig: Harvard’s Hidden Gem
No, Craig doesn’t come from the SEC. No, he doesn’t have five stars next to his name. But what he does have is a skill set tailor-made for Stein’s offense.
Let’s look at the numbers.
In 2025, Craig completed 61.5% of his passes (208-of-338) for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions. That’s 8.5 yards per attempt-efficient, vertical-enough football without the turnover baggage that usually comes with pushing the ball downfield.
In 2024, he was just as steady: 60.6% completions, 2,430 yards, 23 touchdowns, 3 picks, and 8.7 yards per attempt.
That’s two straight seasons of clean, productive quarterback play. Craig doesn’t try to do too much-he just makes the right read, puts the ball where it needs to go, and keeps the offense moving.
He’s not a game-breaking runner, but he’s mobile enough to function in the red zone and on designed QB runs. Across his career, he’s logged 150 carries for 194 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns-enough to keep defenses honest.
What stands out most? He plays like a facilitator.
He gets the ball out quickly. He doesn’t take unnecessary risks.
In a system built around spacing and timing, that’s exactly what you want.
And yes, there’s a little Ryan Fitzpatrick energy here. Harvard guy.
Underrated. Smart.
Efficient. Just saying.
Why a One-Year Bridge Makes Sense
If Boley stays, great. That’s the ideal scenario-a high-upside quarterback with local roots growing under two proven developers. But if he doesn’t, Kentucky’s not in a position to go all-in on a multi-year portal project.
That’s what Boley was supposed to be. That’s what incoming freshman Matt Ponatoski could become.
What the Wildcats need, if Boley walks, is a one-year bridge. A grown-up in the room. Someone who can run the offense, protect the football, and give the younger guys time to develop without throwing them into the fire too soon.
That’s where Craig fits perfectly.
You bring him in with a clear understanding: compete for the starting job, run a system that mirrors what NFL teams are doing, and put up efficient numbers in the SEC. Do that, and you’re suddenly on the radar for the next level.
Meanwhile, Ponatoski gets to watch, learn, and grow. Kentucky doesn’t box itself into a long-term commitment. Everyone wins.
If Boley Stays, This Is All Academic
Let’s be clear-Kentucky’s first and best option is still Cutter Boley staying in Lexington. He’s the kind of quarterback you build a program around, and with Stein and Sloan in his corner, the developmental ceiling is sky-high.
But in the transfer era, you can’t just hope. You have to plan.
That means recruiting your own roster while quietly preparing for what happens if a key piece leaves. If Kentucky puts all its eggs in the five-star portal basket and ignores players like Jaden Craig, it risks missing what other programs have already figured out: your next star doesn’t have to come from a blue blood.
Just ask Ole Miss, who turned a transfer from Ferris State into a 3,000-yard passer.
Sometimes, the smartest move isn’t chasing the biggest name-it’s finding the guy who already does the little things right, and letting your system and your weapons elevate the rest.
Bottom Line
If Boley stays? Perfect. Kentucky’s in business.
If he doesn’t? The Wildcats need to resist the urge to chase logos and stars.
They need a quarterback who can run the offense, not reinvent it. Someone who can keep the ball moving, stay efficient, and give the team a chance to win while the next generation develops behind him.
That might not be the most exciting move on paper. But in Will Stein’s offense, it might be the smartest.
And Jaden Craig just might be the right guy for the job.