As Josh Allen prepares to compete for another AFC Championship, his remarkable rise from a lightly-recruited 3-star prospect to NFL superstar sheds light on a glaring issue in Kentucky football. While Allen has become a symbol of what can happen when raw talent is developed properly, Mark Stoops’ Wildcats have struggled to find, recruit, and develop quarterbacks who can thrive in college and beyond.
Josh Allen’s Overlooked Recruitment and Development
Path to stardom began with limited opportunities:
On3 Ranking: A modest 3-star rating with a score of 79.27, enrolled in a Junior College, was the number 5 dual threat JUCO QB according to 247.
Recruitment: Only Eastern Michigan and Wyoming offered him scholarships. Eastern Michigan withdrew its offer when Allen visited Wyoming late in the 2014-15 signing period.
College Career Stats:
2015: Played sparingly (2 games, 66.7% completion, 51 yards).
2016: Emerged as a starter (3,203 passing yards, 28 TDs, 15 INTs).
2017: Slight statistical dip only playing in 11 games, (1,812 passing yards, 16 TDs, 6 INTs) but showed enough talent to become the 7th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Despite modest stats at Wyoming (56.2% career completion rate, 16-11 record), Allen’s potential was clear. His development under Wyoming’s coaching staff and ability to adapt to challenges proved transformative.
Kentucky Football’s Quarterback Struggles Under Mark Stoops
In contrast, Kentucky football under Mark Stoops has yet to develop a quarterback into even a high-level college passer. Let’s examine why:
Recruiting but Not Developing
Stoops has landed highly-ranked QBs like Drew Barker (4-star) and Cutter Boley (4-star), but neither has panned out (Boley is still just a redshirt Freshman):
Barker failed to meet expectations, hindered by injuries and underwhelming development.
Boley, despite his promise, is already facing competition from transfer Zach Calzada, who has been a journeyman in the SEC and beyond.
Dependence on Transfers
Stoops has relied heavily on transfer QBs like Terry Wilson and Will Levis rather than developing his recruits:
Terry Wilson: Finished 17-9 as a starter but struggled with consistency and injuries.
Will Levis: A Penn State transfer, Levis had flashes of brilliance but regressed in his second season at Kentucky, raising questions about the program’s offensive system.
Constant Staff Turnover
The carousel of offensive coordinators under Stoops has stunted quarterback development:
Liam Coen: Successful in his first stint before leaving for the NFL. Less so during his second, now an NFL head coach.
Shannon Dawson: Found greater success as Miami’s OC, where he’s been nominated for Coach of the Year.
Rich Scangarello: Struggled mightily at Kentucky before returning to the NFL.
Bush Hamdan: His debut as OC was one of the least productive in Kentucky’s recent history.
Each coordinator has seemingly improved after leaving Kentucky, with maybe the exception of Scanarello, suggesting that the underlying issue lies with Stoops’ philosophy rather than the offensive staff.
Why Kentucky Can’t Attract Top Quarterbacks
Kentucky’s inability to develop quarterbacks also impacts recruiting. While the program has signed a few 4-star QBs, it hasn’t been able to attract elite talent consistently. Possible reasons include:
Offensive Game Planning: Stoops’ preference for a run-heavy, slow-tempo offense doesn’t appeal to top-tier QBs looking to showcase their passing skills. For in-depth stats, click here
Lack of Development Track Record: No quarterback has emerged from Stoops’ system as a top NFL prospect, with the exception of Levis who has since struggled with the Titans. Devin Leary was a pro prospect before coming to the Cats.
Recruiting Over Promising Players: The decision to bring in Zach Calzada, a journeyman QB, signals that Kentucky may not fully trust its younger talent.
What Needs to Change?
For Kentucky to compete at a higher level in the SEC, Mark Stoops must address the following:
Stablish the offensive staff with GOOD coaches: Establish consistency by retaining an offensive coordinator long enough to implement a cohesive system as long as that coordniator shows promise.
Evolve the Offensive Scheme: Move away from the plodding, run-heavy approach to one that better showcases quarterback talent.
Focus on QB Development: Make the position a priority by recruiting and mentoring quarterbacks with the potential to thrive.
Final Thoughts
Josh Allen’s rise from overlooked 3-star recruit to NFL superstar shows the value of proper quarterback development. Fans are asking why can't Kentucky develop quarterbacks?