By LARRY VAUGHT
(LEXINGTON, Ky.)-One of few bright spots for the Kentucky football team this year has been the development of quarterback Cutter Boley. The redshirt freshman went from backup to start the season to starter and completed 25 or more passes in consecutive games against Georgia, Texas and Tennessee. The streak was snapped when he went 18-for-29 for 161 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions against Auburn last week but it came in UK’s first SEC win this season.
Boley has been assisted by a variety of former Kentucky quarterbacks on his way to his first win as a SEC starting quarterback.
Andre Woodson, who threw 9,360 yards and 81 touchdowns as a two-time All-SEC selection, reached out to Boley. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Woodson wanted to reach out to offer advice.
“I never met Andre even though he was a 5th Region person like me,” Scott Boley, Cutter’s father and a former Western Kentucky University basketball player, said. “But I know they have been talking because Cutter was texting with him one day at our house.”
Mike Hartline threw for 5,680 yards and 38 touchdowns following Woodson and is now on the Kentucky staff.
“A lot of times when Cutter comes in, he spends one-on-one time with Michael. He’s really done a good job, he’s been a great addition to our staff,” UK coach Mark Stoops said. “It’s another UK guy that cares about this place, and I’m very impressed with him. He’s a great coach, and he’s really helped us, and he’s helped Cutter.”
“Cutter has loved the addition of Mike Hartline. He has been great working with Cutter,” Scott Boley said.
However, they are not the only former UK quarterbacks who have helped Boley.
Tim Couch, UK’s all-time passing leader and former NFL No. 1 overall draft pick, watched Boley at Lexington Christian because his son also played there.
“Tim has been great all along,” Scott Boley said.
Former UK quarterback Morgan Newton was Boley’s quarterback coach at LCA. He stays in touch with the UK quarterback.
“The first one (former UK quarterback) to help Cutter was Bill Ransdell when Cutter was younger,” Scott Boley said. “With my daughter (Erin, a high school and college basketball standout), I felt I knew enough to help her since I knew basketball. But football is a different thing. I am just smart enough to know to listen to others who know a lot more than me and let them help Cutter.”
However, the first person to note that Cutter Boley could be special was long-time high school coach Marty Jaggers, a former quarterback. He watched Boley at LaRue County when he was being coached by his son, Josh Jaggers.
“Marty said when Cutter threw the ball it just made a different noise than when anyone else threw. He was the first to maybe know Cutter’s arm was just different,” Scott Boley said.
(Vicky Graff Photo)
