When ESPN released its latest ranking of all 68 starting quarterbacks in the Power Four, Kentucky fans hardly needed to scroll. The Wildcats were at the very bottom. Dead last.
It’s a familiar and painful story under Mark Stoops, whose 13 years at Kentucky have been defined by inconsistency at the most important position on the field. Since Stoops’ arrival in 2012, the Wildcats have trotted out 17 different starting quarterbacks. ESPN itself has leaned into the graphic of Kentucky’s quarterback carousel over the years, and the list reads like a patchwork quilt of transfers, fill-ins, and experiments.
A history of frustration
The transfer era began in earnest for Kentucky in 2016 with Stephen Johnson, and from there the parade of names only grew. Terry Wilson. Will Levis. Devin Leary. Brock Vandagriff. Zach Calzada.
Mixed in were the one-offs and emergency solutions: Lynn Bowden, the do-everything receiver pressed into QB duty; Sawyer Smith; Kaiya Sheron; Destin Wade. Some flashed toughness. Some had big moments. But none have been able to put together a season that even resembles elite quarterback play. The stat that just does not stop: in 13 seasons under Stoops, not one Kentucky quarterback has eclipsed 3,000 passing yards or 30 touchdowns in a single year.
ESPN’s verdict: The bottom of the barrel
So when ESPN’s Bill Connelly slotted Kentucky in at No. 68, the lowest spot on the list, it didn’t raise eyebrows—it confirmed them. Here’s what Connelly had to say:
68. Cutter Boley and Zach Calzada, Kentucky
- Total QBR: 25.4
- Pass Yards: 636
- Rush Yards: 89
- Total TDs: 3
Boley threw for 240 yards against Eastern Michigan, with seven completions of 20+ yards. Against defenses ranked higher than 135th in SP+, he and Calzada combined to go 36-for-75 for 396 yards, with two interceptions and nine sacks. Fifty-three of those yards came on a single dump-off pass. The QB position offered almost nothing to UK last season—and it’s offering even less in 2025.
Ouch. It’s as blunt an evaluation as you’ll find, but it’s hard to argue against. Kentucky’s quarterback production has stalled out to the point of invisibility on the national stage.
A stark contrast in the SEC
While Kentucky struggles at the bottom, here’s how ESPN’s Top 10 quarterbacks stack up:
- Jalon Daniels, Kansas
- Demond Williams Jr., Washington
- Ty Simpson, Alabama
- CJ Carr, Notre Dame
- Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
- Dante Moore, Oregon
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
- Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
- Jayden Maiava, USC
What jumps out? Vanderbilt, another SEC program that has long struggled for relevance, now sits with a top-10 quarterback in the nation. Kentucky, meanwhile, occupies the opposite end of the spectrum.
Why can't Kentucky develop a quarterback?
The question isn’t just why Kentucky is last, it’s why quarterbacks continue to flounder in Lexington. The system under Mark Stoops has been notoriously unfriendly to passers. Whether due to conservative offensive philosophies, constant turnover at offensive coordinator, or a lack of consistent development, the result is the same: quarterbacks don’t thrive here.
It is very hard to just come in and throw 18 passes a game and be on target for 15 of those. Couple that with slow playing, and QB's just do not get a chance to get into a rhythm and get going. And that will only continue with the latest comments from Stoops and Hamdan.
It’s become a reputation. Kentucky isn’t seen as a place where QBs can shine, it’s where their development stalls. And in today’s transfer-heavy, NIL-fueled world, that reputation makes it even harder to land or keep top talent at the position.
Until Stoops and his staff find a way to change the offensive culture, Kentucky’s quarterbacks will keep showing up at the wrong end of lists like this.
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