Devin Leary, Kentucky Football News: Draft Scout Player News

03/07/23 - QB Devin Leary, rSr/2024, Kentucky

New Kentucky football quarterback Devin Leary was a full participant in the first day of spring practice Monday as he works his way back from a torn pectoral muscle that ended his 2022 season after six games at N.C. State. "I know he was on a pitch count," Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said. "But the way we rotate quarterbacks and have depth, it didn't affect the way I saw practice." Leary's availability for spring practice is a significant boost for a Wildcat offense that has to replace likely top-10 NFL Draft pick Will Levis at quarterback and bounce back from a disappointing 2022 season.

When last fully healthy in 2021, Leary threw 35 touchdowns and just five interceptions to earn a spot as one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to college football's top quarterback. Leary was ranked as the top available quarterback in the transfer portal when he committed to Kentucky in December. Now, Leary can work on building chemistry with a group of talented but still young receivers led by sophomores Barion Brown and Dane Key. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who returned to Lexington after one year as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, will have his projected starting quarterback available as he works to teach his scheme to those young playmakers this spring. "Devin is just waiting to lead," Stoops said. "What I mean by waiting is he's earning it and he's doing it respectfully. He can take over a room in five minutes, but he knows that it's about going out and proving it day in and day out and not forcing that...I think it's very important to just be authentic, be who you are but also lead and find your voice in the right time and the right moment." - Herald Leader

rSr/2024