Kentucky
Kentucky hopes new additions, returners can revitalize offense
Has coach Mark Stoops assembled right pieces to turnaround Wildcats?
LEXINGTON — It’s been awhile since Kentucky has produced a high powered passing attack that ranks above No. 10 in the SEC.
Since Mark Stoops has been at the helm of the Wildcats’ program, Kentucky’s best passing attack has only ranked as high as, well, No. 10 in the SEC. From 2018-2020, the Big Blue finished dead last with a pedestrian average of about 120 yards per game.
It’s not like Stoops hasn’t recruited adequate arm talent during his time on the bluegrass either in Drew Barker, Will Levis, Joey Gatewood and former North Carolina State transfer Devin Leary. Perhaps Kentucky’s struggles in the passing game can be blamed on lack of offensive staff continuity as the Wildcats have been mostly one dimensional with a stout rushing attack.
Former Texas A&M, Incarnate Word quarterback Zach Calzada now takes a stab at revitalizing Kentucky’s aerial assault with Ja’Kori Maclin and a host of new receivers. Calzada boasts a 23-9 record as a starter and has amassed 731-of-1,163 completions for 8,707 passing yards with 73 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
There’s a chip on the shoulder of each offensive player for the Wildcats, including Maclin who has NFL aspirations.
“I think for me personally, this is my last year,” Maclin said. “I had plans to go to the NFL after last season but it didn’t go the way I wanted. I’ve got a chip on my shoulder to be the best receiver in the nation. We’ve all got a chip on our shoulder to show that we’re the best.”
Stoops won’t come out and say that his sixth-year transfer has earned the right to be the starter yet. He want each player in the quarterback room to “earn it.”
“You bring in Zach Calzada. He’s a sixth-year guy so I love that experience of that. Here’s a guy that has played a lot of football,” Stoops said earlier this week. “You know, with Zach, you see a guy that has played a ton of football so I like that part of it.”
Everything is going to be earned, nothing is given and we have to get back to that. That’s the way it’s always been. Nobody is going to be given anything. They’d better go win the job.
