3 Reasons why Mark Stoops is turning to Cutter Boley

After a terrible season for Kentucky’s offense so far, true freshman Cutter Boley may soon get a chance to show what he can do. Starter Brock Vandagriff was knocked out of the Tennessee game, and while indications are he is progressing, he may not be ready for the Murray State game.

Having played briefly in a blowout loss to Florida, Boley can retain his redshirt status, even if he sees action in the final three games of Kentucky’s season (Murray, @Texas, Louisville). With the Wildcats facing a struggling 1-8 Murray State team first, Boley could get extended reps to get him ready for the next two. He essentially will have four games under his belt as an RS Freshman next year; it is not often you get that kind of experience.

“He’s an option,” head coach Mark Stoops said. “I’d like to see him.” Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan echoed Stoops, saying, “With where we’re at right now, there’s probably a lot of that happening” regarding Boley’s chances. (Credit: Aaron Gershon of the Cats Pause)

Here are 3 reasons why the move to Boley makes sense:

1. Valuable In-Game Experience

There is no substitution for experience. Despite Boley’s rough debut, live reps against college defenses, especially in the SEC, are invaluable. Giving him more snaps, especially in a game like the upcoming matchup against Murray State (who is awful), would allow him to adjust to game speed and build confidence before a trip to Texas and closing at home against Louisville.

2. Evaluating Future Potential at the Position

It's not a secret that Bush Hamdan has his preference for a QB, and Cutter Boley was recruited under Liam Coen. With Kentucky struggling offensively this season, it’s an opportune time to assess Boley's potential as a long-term solution.

Boley’s presence on the field gives the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate his skill set against live competition. This can help them decide on his role in the program moving forward under an OC that didn't recruit him. It may even give him and the staff an idea of whether he needs to transfer to find a better fit.

3. Potential Spark for a Struggling Offense

We have watched Kentucky now for nine games this year. Can he do much worse? Ranked near the bottom nationally in total offense and scoring, Kentucky needs new energy on offense. Boley, a highly-regarded freshman with significant upside for the future, could bring a spark. With Kentucky unlikely to reach its offensive goals this season and missing out on a bowl game, this is a low-risk opportunity to experiment and potentially inject some excitement into the offense and the fanbase for the future, heading into an off-season full of questions.

After all is said and done, Boley may or may not be the answer. But we owe it to him to give a chance where both Wimsatt and Vandagriff have struggled. Kentucky is on a bye this week and will return next Saturday to play Murray State at home. Stay tuned to Wildcat Blue Nation for the latest and greatest news.