Hello everyone, we are about a month away from the beginning of the 2025 season. For Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats, it’s a chance to put a disappointing 4-8 campaign in the mirror. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going position by position, looking at the SEC’s elder statesman’s 13th squad. Up first is the glamour position and one that’s being watched closely by the Big Blue Nation. With that in mind, let’s preview them with the 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Quarterbacks.
Looking At A Very Scrutinized Position
A New Home
Following the 2024 season starter, Brock Vandagriff surprisingly retired from football. In addition, Gavin Wimsatt transferred to Jacksonville State. As a result, Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan looked for an experienced signal caller. You won’t find many more experienced than Zach Calzada.
The well-traveled signal caller ranked as the 26th-best quarterback in the portal. Kentucky is his third stop in the SEC during his college career. Calzada originally signed with Texas A&M way back in 2019. During the 2021 season, Calzada started 10 games. His biggest win came in a triumph over Alabama.
He transferred to Auburn in 2022. However, he had shoulder surgery and never played for the Tigers. The next year, he was on the move again, this time moving to FCS Incarnate Word. That’s the same school that produced Cam Ward.
2024 was a banner season for Calzada. Named Southland Conference Player Of The Year, he threw for 3,751 yards, 35 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. His yards and touchdowns ranked fifth and second, respectively, in FCS. He’s trending towards being the starter against Toledo in the season opener.
Continuing with 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Quarterbacks, let’s look at the player battling Calzada for the QB 1 spot.
Quarterback Of The Future?
At the end of last season, Stoops and Hamdan stated Cutter Boley was the starter heading into 2025. However, with the addition of Calzada, it looks like the hometown hero will be your number-two signal caller.
Appearing in four games, the Lexington Christian Academy star completed 26 of 49 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns. However, he did have four interceptions. His best game came against an FCS squad, Murray State, where he threw for 130 yards and two scores.
In addition, he looked pretty good in the loss to Texas. Playing against one of the best defenses in college football, Boley threw for 160 yards with one pick. He’s added about 20 pounds to his frame in the off-season, which can only help going up against SEC competition.
Continuing with 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Quarterbacks, let’s look at three other players looking to crack the rotation.
Pushing For Playing Time
We’ve talked a lot about Stone Saunders ever since he committed to Kentucky back on August 4, 2023. Putting it in perspective, Liam Coen was still the Cats’ offensive coordinator. That was before he left for Tampa Bay and later became the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach.
Saunders played at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Rated as the 39th-best quarterback in the nation and 18th-best player in the Keystone State. He owns the state’s all-time record for passing touchdowns with 204. Saunders was named Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year. Despite offers from a who’s who of college football, including Colorado, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Texas A&M, he’s remained committed to the Cats.
The second of the incoming quarterbacks is Brennen Ward. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio’s Gahanna Lincoln High School, Ward ranks as the 49th-best player in the Buckeye State and 64th-best quarterback in the nation. In 2024, he threw for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns but missed part of the year due to a knee injury. Even though Ward didn’t play a full season, he was still named first-team all-league.
The final signal caller is a familiar one in Beau Allen. A standout at Lexington Catholic High School, Allen spent his first two years at Kentucky backing up Will Levis. Playing at Tarelton State in 2022, Allen threw for 2,836 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The next year, he transferred to Georgia Southern. However, he never played for the Eagles after being forced to sit out due to being a two-time transfer. Since then, the NCAA has gotten rid of that rule. The veteran sixth-year player lends experience to the quarterback room.
Final Thoughts
For the fourth time in five years, Kentucky opens the season with a transfer quarterback. First, it was Levis for two years, followed by Devin Leary and finally Vandagriff. Calzada didn’t come to Kentucky to sit on the bench. However, Hamdan has shown he’ll go to one of the backups if the starter is struggling.
All signs point to Calzada being under center when the season kicks off on August 31st. How well he picks up the offense goes a long way in the Wildcats having a bounce-back season.
Thanks for checking out the 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Quarterbacks here at Last Word On College Football. Next time around, we’ll look at the running backs.
Main Photo: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
