LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- At the moment, Kentucky’s passing attack is less jet engine and more baggage claim carousel. It’ll get you something eventually — just don’t expect it to come out in a hurry.
Zach Calzada’s UK debut wasn’t without moments. He scored a touchdown. He didn’t take a sack. He completed 10 passes. But his final stat line — 10-for-23 for 85 yards, no touchdowns and an interception — reads more like a drive-thru receipt than the output of a seventh-year quarterback about to resume SEC action.
“We know we need to create some explosive plays,” Mark Stoops said Monday, a phrase he repeated more than once. “We tried to push the ball down the field. Took five shots. Didn’t convert on any of those.”
That’s not ideal. Especially with Ole Miss arriving for Saturday's 3:30 p.m. matchup ranked fourth nationally in passing, having just put up 400 yards through the air — 341 from first-time starter Austin Simmons and 59 more from backup Trinidad Chambliss. Ole Miss had more passing yards in the first quarter last week (150) than Kentucky had the entire game.
Calzada wasn’t inaccurate so much as out of sync. Stoops described him as “pressing,” noting a stretch of three consecutive drives — interception, safety, fumble — that not only torpedoed the offense’s rhythm but deflated the Kroger Field crowd.
“He was very amped up,” Stoops said. “I felt better watching the tape because there are things we know we can fix. He’ll play well.”
Stoops said the staff will work to create more rhythm, and more "layup" throws to build it. He thought that was getting established when a fumble derailed things in the first half Saturday.
He isn’t wavering on Calzada. But he didn’t hesitate to say the staff has strong belief in redshirt freshman Cutter Boley, who’s gaining momentum behind the scenes. This is no controversy — not yet — but another game like the last one might change the dynamic.
Stoops said he wasn’t tempted to turn to Boley against Toledo.
“It would have been premature to pull the plug right there,” he said. “I really believe Zach's going to do very well.”
But patience is a luxury Kentucky may not have. Lane Kiffin’s team just dropped 63 points and piled up 695 total yards, albeit against a Georgia State team that went 3-9 last season. Even so, this isn’t a tune-up. It’s the SEC opener. And it may set the tone for what USA Today ranks as the fifth-toughest schedule in college football.
If Kentucky wants to stay in this game, it will need more than its productive ground game and a defense that held up well against Toledo. It’ll need to throw the ball. On time. Downfield. To someone in blue.
There are reasons for hope. The offensive line gave up no sacks. Tight ends Josh Kattus and Willie Rodriguez were productive. The team practiced tempo and cadence all offseason — and it showed. Stoops praised the line’s short-yardage push and discipline, and the run game averaged more than 5 yards per carry.
But the most important trait the offense can show this week?
Progress. And fast.
Because Ole Miss is coming — fast, explosive, and averaging 8.6 yards per play.
“The tempo is the first thing — obviously they go extremely fast, and they dress things up very well,” Stoops said. “They do what they do, but they present it differently. And they present it very fast. … I’m very impressed with Austin Simmons. They have four transfer wide receivers that are playmakers that can run.”
In short, Ole Miss has just about everything. Kentucky doesn’t need to win a shootout, but it does need to show it can keep pace in one.
Because if the Wildcats don’t get their passing game off the ground soon, the season’s toughest challenges may be over before they even get airborne.
Wilcox suspended
Mark Stoops said Saturday that running back Jamarion Wilcox has been suspended for a violation of team rules. Asked for an update on Monday, Stoops said Wilcox remained suspended and that he couldn't comment further.
Wilcox appeared in all 12 games last season with four starts. He led the Wildcats with 590 rushing yards on 92 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and scored two touchdowns. He recorded back-to-back 100-yard games against Tennessee and Murray State, becoming the first UK freshman since Benny Snell Jr. in 2016 to do so. He closed the year leading Kentucky in rushing yards over the final four games.
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