Cutter Boley swings door wide open to leave Kentucky after Mark Stoops firing

Life moves fast in the SEC, and for Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley, the landscape has shifted dramatically in just 48 hours.

Two days ago, the redshirt freshman was emphatic about his future in Lexington. "Yeah, this is definitely where I want to be," Boley said at the time. "I want to play for Kentucky."

That was before the program was rocked by the departures of head coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan. Now, the former Lexington Christian Academy standout is singing a very different tune. With the two primary architects of his development gone, Boley has swung the door wide open to other programs, signaling that his return to the Wildcats is no longer a guarantee.

A sudden change of plans for Kentucky football

In an interview with Football Scoop, Boley admitted that the coaching upheaval caught him off guard, forcing him to hit pause on his previous commitment.

"I’m still in, like … I’m still processing it a little bit," Boley said. "It kind of came as a bit of a surprise to, I feel like, everybody here."

Boley had previously cited the presence of Stoops and Hamdan as the driving factors behind his desire to stay. With those pillars removed, the calculation has changed. He is no longer talking about loyalty to a school, but rather finding the right fit for his skillset.

"I think just moving forward, I’m trying to find the best place, wherever that may be," Boley said.

He clarified that "here" remains an option, but the qualifier he added is heavy with implication: "Or wherever I can kind of showcase what I can do in the best system for me."

Evaluating the tape

Boley’s potential entry into the transfer portal would draw significant interest. Despite a redshirt freshman campaign that saw him throw 12 interceptions, he also flashed the high-upside potential that made him a consensus four-star prospect.

Boley threw for over 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning SEC weekly honors three separate times. He believes those flashes proved he belongs at the highest level.

"I feel like I showed my natural arm-talent and ability to make plays outside the pocket, extend plays with my feet or escaping and keeping eyes downfield," Boley said. "I think I showed my ability to do a lot of different things with my game."

However, he is aware that the "best system" for him is one that can help him clean up the mistakes.

"I also have a lot or areas to improve, one of those definitely being decreasing my turnovers and putting those passes in a good position to keep the ball in our hands," he noted.

One day at a time

For now, Boley is keeping his options open. While he expressed gratitude for his time under Stoops, saying he "thinks very highly" of the former coach, he is treating the coming days as a business decision.

"I think everything happens fast now," Boley said. "I’m just kind of taking it as it comes... My main focus is putting myself in the best position to showcase my talent."

Whether that position is in Lexington or elsewhere remains to be seen, but the "definitely" from two days ago has officially dissolved into "wherever that may be."