Mark Stoops Press Conference
Mark Stoops News Conference
Post-Bye Week, Pre-South Carolina
Kroger Field Media Room
September 22, 2025
Opening statement…
“Looking forward to a great opportunity here this week. We know that going on the road in the SEC and playing at night is never easy. It is going to be a great challenge. It’s a game that is important to both of us and a South Carolina team that is very good. Coming off a tough loss, so I am sure they are going to be amped up and our team will be prepared and ready to go. We had a good week of practice last week and I am looking forward to getting back at it today.”
On Cutter Boley being listed first at QB on depth chart …
“It is what it is. It is a combination of a lot things. Zach (Calzada) is not, has not been 100% to this point.”
On what the EMU game showed him what Cutter could do and where he’d grow …
“I think you know this by watching us very closely for the last year and a half, Cutter has done some really good things and you have heard me talk about him many different times. We’ve watched him play in other games and show flashes. We have been very confident in Cutter. And I have also told him the whole time, ‘You are going to get your opportunity, it is about what you do and how you play when you get that opportunity.’ I thought he did some very good things in this last game. It is a lot to build on and he is getting more confident and he’s getting more comfortable with every rep.”
On what are the challenges facing him this week on the road at night in the SEC …
“I think, as I mentioned, going on the road in the SEC is difficult. We know that playing at South Carolina – Williams-Brice (Stadium) – that place is incredible with a great, great atmosphere and it is always a real challenge. I think it’s about us and our operation for him to play in a hostile environment like that, we have to have people play good around him. We have to really work this week on the silent count and crowd noise and all those things.”
On his decision-making vs Eastern Michigan and how he thought he did with that …
“I thought he did a very good job. It is easy for all of us to watch the film afterwards and dissect it and maybe have some opportunities that were there that maybe were missed. But overall, he was very comfortable, he’s very confident and he played well.”
On what he’s looking for specifically for those around Cutter to do to help everyone be successful …
“We just have to play clean. We have done a very good job this year of protecting the football. I think we have one fumble, one interception. We have to continue to protect the ball. The operation has to be good as far as pre-snap penalties and things of that nature. Just the communication as a whole. The offensive line, I think it starts there. We have to get some protection. We know South Carolina can harass the quarterback, we have to give him some time and have to have some balance as well.”
On Dylan Stewart and how you can scheme against him to help …
“Well, at times and then there are times when you just have to win. We have to give him (the quarterback) enough time. You always have to be very aware of where he (Stewart) is at and have a plan, but you cannot do that on every snap. There are going to be one-on-one matchups and we have to hold our own.”
On what his assessment of Willie Rodriguez is through three games …
“Willie is a very good football player that has done a good job. He is getting better and is still very young. You have a guy playing with him in Kattus that is playing at a high level. The combination of the two, I want to say it is in the neighborhood of 14 catches or somewhere in there. They have done a nice job.”
On South Carolina’s offensive scheme under a new coordinator …
“Yeah, I think that is a good question but there are a lot of things that carry over. I think it’s very easy to see that the offense is running through LaNorris (Sellers), right? He’s just a dynamic player, an extremely talented player, very good. You watch him in the pocket with a clean pocket, and you see the way he throws the football and the velocity he has on it, the accuracy, very impressive. We all know what he can do on his feet. With either designed runs or when things break down, he is so big and so strong, he’s tough. He is good in a lot of ways. Play calling, there’s obviously going to be some difference but there’s a lot of things that carry over as well.”
On South Carolina’s defense and how they’ve been successful against UK’s offense in previous seasons …
“I don’t go back looking at the four games in particular, but you know that they are a good team. Last year I think was the game that stood out. It was just protection. They had some guys that wrecked it and pressure was a big thing. I think last year, that was the first SEC game for us and going into that matchup, we didn’t know exactly how we would hold up. I think we found out a lot in that game that that was a tough matchup for us. And so to your point, do what you can do and find some ways to chip and protect and not let those guys just wreck a game. But overall South Carolina has always been a good matchup, they’ve always played very aggressive, extremely impressive up front, in particular, if you’re going back to the past, last year they had really good cover guys, a lot of those guys returned. And the guys up front, I don’t think enough was talked about last year with their interior players, and the same this year, very disruptive. But last year they had some very experienced guys, guys that were there for a long time to go with the game wreckers on the edge.”
On the importance of being able to run the ball to help the quarterback …
“That is obviously a point of emphasis, that balance, you’ve heard me say it 2,000 times probably, but you have to have some balance. And you go back again to previous games, if we are not able to run the ball and you have to draw back and pass, that was an area of concern a year ago in particular. So we have to have a balance. The run game, it always starts there with us.”
On facing a mobile quarterback that’s as athletic as Sellers …
“Yes, and it’s also very difficult. He’s different. He’s definitely different because he is one of those guys, if you sit back there and give him the time, he will dissect you. So he could certainly throw the ball very accurately. So, it’s very different when you’re playing a guy that is very, very talented in both throwing the ball and running.”
On his assessment of Joshua Braun so far this season …
“Josh has been very solid. He’s a great leader. Very big, very strong, very steady. We’re very grateful that we have him. He’s been a great addition. Very good player.”
On South Carolina’s success on special teams …
“Yeah, very, very impressive. Just overall special teams, you know that’s Shane’s (Coach Shane Beamer) expertise. They are very good in all phases. They really are. In the return game with (Vicari) Swain, he’s been very dynamic with three touchdowns, pretty impressive, in four games. So you know they’re just good. They are well coached, they play extremely hard, and they’re good units across the board.”
On how he assesses UK’s special teams play this season …
“We’ve been very good, very solid. It’ll be a great challenge this week on the road, playing South Carolina, as we mentioned, how good they are in special teams, in all phases. This will be the biggest test of the year for us, so we need to continue to play well. I have been very impressed with our cover units, our protection, and our kickers have been very good so far. And again, a great opportunity and a great test here this week.”
On how Cutter has grown in the leadership department …
“I think those come through reps and through times authentically, he is definitely a leader. It’s always a learning process with a young quarterback as you bring them along, but Cutter is very likeable. The kids believe in him. They were excited last week, no reflection of Zach, as I mentioned, if anybody gets hurt. We never want to see that, but I think players were excited to watch Cutter and see what he can do and he’ll have another opportunity here this week.”
On the defensive performance vs Eastern Michigan and how to improve it …
“We just need to play better. We need to be more fundamental, play cleaner, be in position. Generally, we’re a good tackling team when we’re in good position on the football. We’ll be tested here this week, and need to play better.”
On if he thinks he can get the two injured corners back this week …
“I hope so, that’s the plan.”
On if Zach’s injury is a long-term concern …
“We’ll see. Anytime you’re dealing with an arm with a quarterback, you have to be smart and cautious and make sure he’s healthy.”
On the team’s tackling …
“It’s very hard to simulate that. We did a very good amount of good against good (last week) where we’re playing fastball. That way we get pushed, checked, and tested, but we’re still not going down to the ground. Generally, through the years we have been pretty sound and fundamental. We play very good people and that’s only going to improve starting this week, so when you’re playing dynamic guys, you have to have a bunch of people around the football and be in great position.”
On changing the bye week preparation and if he can feel the team handled bye week well …
“Sometimes you can feel that, sometimes it comes out of nowhere, good or bad. You can’t always see it. I’ve been very pleased with this team. I’ve told you over and over but it’s true. I like their attitude. I like their work ethic. They want to be good and so areas of improvement last week, very businesslike. We did a lot of good against good to get the tempo up and I like the way we practiced. I think this team is eager to improve and we have a great opportunity in front of us here this week. We’re going to get out there today and they’ve been off for the weekend so we’ll do a little bit more than a typical Monday and get them moving.”
On the tight ends getting more involved in the passing game …
“When we’re drawing up plays you don’t always know where the ball is going to go all the time, you really don’t, and it’s worked out that way. They’re good players, they really are. They’ve made tough catches. Josh has really made some competitive catches, so that’s a credit to him. Some of that is where the ball goes. Last week, the long catch was an off-schedule play and he made a tough catch. He had a couple more of those through the year that were very close, that he didn’t bring down but he’s been very competitive. We know they’re good players and sometimes the ball goes there and sometimes it doesn’t.”
On if he’s had to use the tight ends as extra blockers less this year …
“No, same.”
On if he’s seen Cutter pushing the ball downfield more …
“I think Zach does as well, both of them. When you’re getting out there and you’re off-schedule, it’s very hard to see everything very clear. So, I’m not sure, we’ll see as time goes by, but I like the location that Cutter throws some of those footballs.”
On how much it helps the offense when there are explosive plays …
“I think we need that. Offenses are much more effective when you get the chunk plays, so we need to continue to work on that.”
On the permanent opponents being leaked and his thoughts …
“I really have no comment. I’ve got my hands full if you haven’t noticed. I’ve got a lot going on. I’ve heard different things, different reactions, but I think those are opponents we have played for a long time. People are very familiar with them. I think you heard me say it over and over again, put the ball down and let’s play. Those decisions are made way above my pay grade, so it is what it is.”
On Seth McGowan getting more involved in passing game …
“Yeah, we missed the screen last week to him that was set up fairly well. He’s a guy that you get the ball in his hands, and good things can happen. Seth is emerging as one of our more dynamic players on the offensive side of the ball, and it doesn’t surprise us. We’ve been confident in him and talked a lot about him since he arrived, he’s a very good football player. He’s playing at a good level right now, and hopefully he’ll continue that.”
On the improvement of the run game this season …
“It’s very important, that’s no secret. You’ve heard me say it for a long time. I think our offensive line is playing much better, and certainly the backs are playing at a very high level as well. We have some very good backs that we have a lot of confidence in.”
On Kahlil Saunders’ play this season …
“He was one of the guys that I’ve talked about early on that I just wanted him to be consistent, but he has definitely worked very hard to put him in that position. Not only on the field, but off, he’s becoming more of a leader. He’s grown up quite a bit. We’re very proud of him. He’s playing very well, and we need him to continue as well.”
