Kentucky’s Quarterback Picture Starts to Come Into Focus Under New Staff
Since the coaching change at Kentucky, it’s been a whirlwind of questions for Big Blue Nation. Who’s staying?
Who’s leaving? And most importantly-who’s going to be under center when the Wildcats take the field next fall?
While the full picture isn’t quite in focus yet, we’re starting to see the outlines. And at the center of it all is Cutter Boley.
Boley's Future Still Unclear, But Coaches Are All-In
The transfer portal officially opens January 2, and with a wave of high-profile quarterbacks already announcing their plans to move on, the spotlight has only intensified on Boley. So far, the Kentucky quarterback hasn’t made any public declarations about his future, but if you listen to the new staff, one thing is crystal clear: they want him in Lexington-and they believe in his upside.
New offensive coordinator Joe Sloan didn’t waste any time building a rapport with Boley. In fact, he’s been around the young QB nearly every day since arriving in Lexington.
“Cutter and I have been around each other every day. Excited to work with him,” Sloan said during his introductory press conference.
“Love what he did there at the end of the year. I think he’s got a great future.”
This isn’t just a new relationship either. Sloan recruited Boley out of high school and has maintained a connection ever since. That familiarity could prove valuable as Kentucky tries to keep its young signal-caller in the fold.
“He’s been great. Fantastic kid, tough, and really talented,” Sloan added.
Head coach Will Stein is also a believer, calling Boley’s traits “elite” and emphasizing the open line of communication between player and staff.
For now, Kentucky fans will have to wait for an official word from Boley. But based on how this staff is talking, they’re not just hoping he stays-they’re planning around it.
Depth Still a Concern, But Sloan Likes What’s in the Room
Of course, one quarterback doesn’t make a room. And if history’s any guide, Kentucky’s going to need more than one to get through an SEC season.
Over the past seven years, the Wildcats have started multiple QBs in all but two of them. Injuries happen.
Depth matters.
That’s why Sloan is already looking beyond just Boley.
Right now, the depth chart is young and thin. Boley just wrapped up his redshirt freshman season.
Brennen Ward, another promising arm, redshirted this past fall as a true freshman. And the only other quarterback on the roster is currently busy preparing for what could be an All-American high school baseball season.
Sloan knows that’s not enough.
“Every college football team in America is gonna have to have four quarterbacks in the room,” he said. “It’s just like any other position-just like we need 10 wide receivers or 5-6 tight ends, whatever it might be.
We’ll do that. Ultimately, that’s just college football.
That’s football in general. We gotta fill out a roster.”
It’s early in the roster-building process, and with the portal not yet open, there’s still plenty of time to make additions. But Sloan doesn’t sound like a coach in panic mode. In fact, he seems genuinely excited about what he already has-especially when it comes to Ward and Matt Ponatoski.
Don’t Sleep on Ponatoski
Ponatoski might not be a household name just yet, but Sloan’s already a big fan. The Cincinnati native is a two-sport standout, and Sloan got to know him well during his time at LSU-often catching up after long days of baseball games.
“Matt’s an excellent football player,” Sloan said. “I think he has elite arm talent.
I think he has toughness in the pocket. He’s really creative.
He’s a really good athlete in terms of his balance, his mobility, and his ability to create power.”
That’s high praise, and it speaks to the kind of upside Ponatoski brings-especially if he can juggle the demands of baseball and football at the college level.
Building Begins Now
There’s still a lot of work to do before Kentucky’s quarterback room is fully stocked and ready for the grind of an SEC schedule. But Sloan and the new staff aren’t just throwing darts here. They’ve got a clear vision, and they’re already building relationships with the young talent on the roster.
“I’m really excited about some of the young players on the team,” Sloan said. “I think there’s definitely some talent.”
The next few weeks will be telling. The portal opens in January, and the decisions made in the days that follow will shape Kentucky’s quarterback situation heading into spring ball.
But for now, the message from the new staff is clear: they like what they’ve inherited-and they believe the future under center in Lexington could be a bright one.