{"id":49418,"date":"2023-08-16T13:00:56","date_gmt":"2023-08-16T17:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=49418"},"modified":"2025-11-07T09:25:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T14:25:36","slug":"2023-kentucky-position-preview-quarterbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2023\/08\/16\/2023-kentucky-position-preview-quarterbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Kentucky Position Preview: Quarterbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

High Expectations In The Year Ahead<\/span><\/h3>\n

It’s hard to believe but we are only a couple of weeks from the 2023 season getting underway. After a disappointing 7-6 year last season, expectations are high for\u00a0<\/span>Mark Stoops’<\/span><\/a>\u00a011th club. To get you ready for the season opener against Ball State we’re going position by position looking at the Wildcats. As we start our 2023 Kentucky Position Preview: Quarterbacks by looking at the signal callers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Big Time Add Through The Portal<\/span><\/h3>\n

After two years in Lexington,\u00a0<\/span>Will Levis<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is now competing for the starting job with the Tennessee Titans. As a result Stoops and returning offensive coordinator\u00a0<\/span>Liam Coen<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0had to look for a new starter. Naturally, they did what most schools do these days, look to the portal. They quickly found their guy in\u00a0<\/span>Devin Leary<\/span><\/a>, the\u00a0<\/span>top-ranked quarterback in the transfer portal.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

A season ago at North Carolina State Leary appeared in only six games due to a torn pectoral muscle. During that time he threw for 1,166 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kentucky is hoping for a return to his 2021 form where he threw for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. As a result, he was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award for the nation\u2019s top quarterback. Pittsburgh\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Kenny Pickett<\/span><\/a>\u00a0won the trophy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leary begins 2023 on the watch list for both the Maxwell Award for the top player in college football and the\u00a0<\/span>Davey O’Brien Award<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for the top quarterback.<\/span><\/p>\n

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QB @DevinLeary1<\/a> is on the watch list for the 87th @MaxwellFootball<\/a> Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in #collegefootball<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf0\ud83d\udd17https:\/\/t.co\/6DUJHUPIr2<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kQmokNDOcO<\/a><\/p>\n

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 31, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n