BBN holds their breath as Cutter Boley exits with scary neck injury

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse than trailing Vanderbilt 17-0 in the first half, the absolute worst-case scenario unfolded for the Kentucky Wildcats.

The offense has been stagnant, the defense has been shredded by Diego Pavia, but the one hope for the future, redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley, had been the lone reason to keep watching.

That hope nearly evaporated in a single, terrifying moment.

The scary moment

Trying to make a play while his team was getting boat-raced, Boley dropped back and managed to evade the initial Vanderbilt pass rush. He found a receiver over the middle, but the blitz eventually got home.

Boley was tackled from behind and driven directly into one of his own offensive linemen. The replay showed his neck bending in an incredibly awkward, cringe-inducing way.

The collective heart of the Big Blue Nation stopped. Boley stayed down, and the medical staff rushed out. He was eventually helped off the field, designated as "questionable" with a neck injury.

Enter the villain: The Zach Calzada experience

As if the injury wasn't enough to sour the mood, the replacement quarterback was the one player who has drawn the ire of the fanbase more than anyone else this season.

Zach Calzada trotted onto the field.

Yes, the same Zach Calzada who made headlines for publicly criticizing the offensive scheme. The same Zach Calzada who, just weeks ago, was seen on social media counting stacks of hundred-dollar bills and telling a fan to "get his money" while the team was struggling.

His return to the field went exactly as you’d expect. On his very first possession, facing a 3rd and 12, Calzada heaved a ball downfield that was intercepted. To be fair, it was essentially an arm punt on a dead play, but the optics were disastrous.

A glimmer of hope (and toughness)

The Vanderbilt offense stalled on the ensuing drive, getting stuffed on 4th down and giving Kentucky decent field position.

Then, a surprise. Cutter Boley trotted back onto the field.

Facing a 3rd and 4, the freshman showed incredible grit by returning to the lineup just minutes after a neck injury that looked season-ending. Unfortunately, his offensive line did him no favors. Boley was immediately sacked, killing the drive. But they did walk away with 3 points.

What now?

We will keep a close eye on Boley coming out of the halftime locker room. It appears he avoided major structural damage, which is a miracle considering how that tackle looked.

But the larger issue remains: Kentucky is down 24-3, the offensive line cannot protect whoever is under center, and the vibes are looking like the last 3 weeks was fool's gold.

Boley is tough, clearly. But is it worth putting the future of the program back out there behind this line in a game that feels like it is slipping out of reach? That is the question Mark Stoops has to answer in the second half.

Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion