By Mark Pszonak
The transfer portal gives every program the opportunity to bring in a top quarterback. Some of these additions prosper and help their new team, while others don’t meet expectations. On Monday, one head coach decided to make a move and bench his transfer quarterback in the hopes of rejuvenating his offense before a big rivalry game.
Kentucky had high hopes for Brock Vandagriff. While he never got the opportunity to showcase his abilities at Georgia, many thought that when given a chance he would flourish. However, that didn’t happen this season in Lexington. Vandagriff was given a chance to run the offense and the results were disappointing. So today, Coach Mark Stoops decided to make a change:
QB Change: Mark Stoops says Cutter Boley will start versus Louisville this week ⬇
We'll have more tonight at 7:30 on @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/CDcTyw4YTf
— BBN Tonight (@BBNTonight) November 25, 2024
At 4-7, the Wildcats don’t have much to play for this season aside from their rivalry game this weekend against Louisville. But the announcement that Cutter Boley, an in-state true freshman, would be making his first start against the Cardinals, immediately brought some life back into the fanbase.
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The decision was the right one for Coach Stoops. Vandagriff passed for 1,593 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. And against P4 teams he passed for 1,004 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions in eight games. This comes out to an average of 125.5 yards per game against P4 opposition. This roster also has other issues, but no team is going to have a successful season when that is the quarterback’s production.
Is Boley the long-term answer? That’s impossible to say today, but on Saturday everyone in Lexington will get a long look at their possible future. Also, a solid game may keep the Wildcats from diving back into the transfer portal for another quarterback.
And what about Vandagriff’s future? In 2024 the most likely scenario is that he re-enters the transfer portal in the hopes of revitalizing his career elsewhere. With how the 2024 season went for Kentucky that is looking like the best decision for both sides.
