Kentucky Wildcats Seek Stability Under New Quarterback Calzada for 2024 Season

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Wildcats are gearing up for the 2024 college football season as preparations get underway at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. With spring practice just weeks away, head coach Mark Stoops is set to oversee his 13th season while searching for a stable quarterback following a tumultuous transition in the position.

This year marks the first time since 2019 that Kentucky’s offensive coordinator staff remains unchanged heading into a normal spring practice. However, concerns linger as the Wildcats will feature another new starting quarterback in Lexington. After former Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff left after one season, and backup Gavin Wimsatt transferred to Jacksonville State, the coaching staff is looking again to the transfer portal to fill the void.

Returning for the Wildcats is Cutter Boley, a local talent who spent the previous season redshirting. Nonetheless, the coaching staff is hesitant to hand him the starting role. Instead, they are turning to Zach Calzada, a seventh-year senior transferring from Incarnate Word.

Calzada, measuring 6-4 and 230 pounds, began his career at Texas A&M, where he started 10 games in 2021 and threw for 2,185 yards and 17 touchdowns. After a season with Auburn that was marred by injury, Calzada found success at Incarnate Word, leading his team to the playoffs last year.

“I’m excited to bring my experience to a new environment,” Calzada said. “The goal is to build strong relationships and execute the offense effectively.”

Joining Calzada in the quarterback room are some promising young talents, including Boley, who hopes to learn from the veteran this spring. Other newcomers such as freshman Jalen Saunders and redshirt freshman Willie Rodriguez are also looking to compete for positions, adding a mix of experience and youthful potential to the roster.

The 6-2, 215-pound Boley, who played briefly last season, came in as a highly sought-after high-school prospect and has high hopes for the future. “I just want to prove that I’m capable of making plays when it counts,” Boley said.

Meanwhile, Saunders, who set records in Pennsylvania with over 200 touchdown passes in high school, has enrolled early and is looking to secure the QB3 job. “Competing against these guys is just what I need to accelerate my growth,” he noted.

On the tight end front, Kentucky is expecting greater contributions from experienced players like Josh Kattus and junior-level transfers. Kattus, who had a promising freshman season, is viewed as a leader in the locker room. “The tight end position is crucial to our offense, and we plan to utilize it more effectively this season,” Kattus stated.

Overall, the Wildcats have a tough road ahead, requiring both a consistent offensive line and dynamic support from running backs and receivers. As Stoops and his staff focus on installing their game plan, they are hopeful that adding talent through the transfer portal will spark the offense after performing poorly in the previous season.

“We need an offense that can produce and score consistently,” Smoky stressed. “With the changes we’ve made, our focus is integrating these pieces and preparing for competition.”

The tight end core is highlighted by several recruits, including the incoming 6-3.5, 220-pound Rodriguez. Known for his size and ability to create space, Rodriguez aims to improve on the modest tight end production last year, where they accounted for only 14.9% of the team’s receptions. Kattus expects to contribute to a larger offensive scheme this season. “We need to become a reliable part of the passing attack,” he emphasized.

With the offseason focused on rebuilding following roster changes, Kentucky is at a critical juncture—a reality that head coach Stoops carries into the upcoming spring practice.