TEMPE – The wait is over. Arizona State named Cutter Boley its starting quarterback on Saturday, one week ahead of the Sun Devils’ season opener against Morgan State.
Following the departure of Sam Leavitt to LSU, ASU brought in Boley (Kentucky) and Mikey Keene (Fresno State) via transfer, while adding true freshman Jake Fette and retaining Cam Dyer. After months of competition within that group, Boley separated himself and earned the starting job for the Sun Devils.
“We felt like he had a great camp, did a good job taking care of the football,” coach Kenny Dillingham said. “We think Cutter is the best opportunity for us to go and win football games. We feel like he deserves it and he won it.”
The 6-foot-5, 213-pound Boley brings starting experience from the SEC to Arizona State. He went 4-6 in his first full season as a starter at Kentucky last season, including SEC wins over Auburn and Florida. Boley passed for 2,160 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he also threw 12 interceptions and fumbled five times, losing two.
He was named the quarterback on the SEC All-Freshman team.
“We all came here to win,” Boley said after an ASU spring practice. “The competition in this room makes everybody better, and that’s going to show on the field.”
While Boley earned the nod, Arizona State’s coaching staff remains confident in the entire quarterback room heading into the season.
“We feel really good about Mikey, we feel really good about Cam, we feel really good about Jake,” Dillingham said. “We feel good about that room and we thought they all got better.”
Dillingham praised Boley’s physical tools and the potential those gifts give him at quarterback.
“He’s big, he’s strong, he’s a better athlete than people give him credit for,” Dillingham said. “I think that’s one thing you don’t see in practice. How many times would you not get sacked? You don’t know until you know. I don’t even know, and it will be on Saturdays when I know.”
Arizona State plays three preseason ranked teams this season, with two of those matchups coming against Big 12 opponents Texas Tech and BYU. Dillingham believes Boley’s experience in the SEC will prepare him for those matchups.
“The experience of playing at a high level is huge because the lights aren’t going to be too bright for him,” Dillingham said. “We play three games against top-15 opponents on the road this year, so we’re going to be playing under a lot of bright lights.”
Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo likes the growth Boley has displayed throughout camp.
“I think we pushed Boley really well and I think his command of what he wants in the offense has come along each day,” Arroyo said. “I think he’s been intentful and really deliberate off the field and he’s really likened himself to getting in there and trying to find some dark hours of work which I think is necessary to this position to have the success we want.”
Along with Boley’s skill set, Dillingham praised Boley’s personality and leadership qualities.
“He’s positive, he’s charismatic, he takes the blame,” Dillingham said. “It’s very humble with a positive vibe and charisma and there’s a bunch of ways you can lead people. There is not a right way, there’s not a wrong way, it’s just your own way.”
Boley and Keene joined the team’s leadership council at Camp Tontozona.
“We always add a few people to our leadership council after summer in the middle of camp,” Dillingham said. “Owen Long, Mikey and Cutter were all added to that list. These are the votes of their peers, so we have our guys who are gonna make decisions for us.”
The Sun Devils went 8-5 last season (including the postseason) with a 6-3 conference record, finishing tied for fourth in the Big 12.
With the quarterback competition now settled, Boley will have one week to prepare for his first start in an Arizona State uniform and his first opportunity to lead the Sun Devils in front of a home crowd against Morgan State. The Sun Devils will host the Bears on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. MST at Mountain America Stadium.
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