By Moses Joshua 
Despite the noise and the numbers, Leary’s legacy deserves a second look — and a whole lot more respect.
Blind Résumé Test: The Truth Behind the Stats
At first glance, the reaction from Big Blue Nation (BBN) to the mention of Devin Leary might be a collective eye-roll. “He missed too many throws,” some say. “The offense stalled,” others argue. But while frustration fueled much of the fanbase’s perception in 2023, the facts paint a far more impressive — and underappreciated — picture.
Try this exercise: line up the best single-season stat lines for quarterbacks under Mark Stoops. Now remove the names. One threw for more than 2,700 yards and 25 touchdowns. Another led high-octane shootouts against SEC heavyweights. One operated in a system defined by tempo restrictions and still surpassed NFL draft pick Will Levis in touchdown passes.
They’re all Devin Leary.
Stacking up his 2023 campaign against other notable Stoops-era QBs, the results are hard to dispute:
Will Levis (2021): 2,827 yards, 24 TDs, 66% completions
Devin Leary (2023): 2,746 yards, 25 TDs, 56% completions
Patrick Towles (2014): 2,718 yards, 14 TDs, 57% completions
That’s your top three — and Leary’s name is firmly etched in it.
More Than Meets the Eye: Context is Key
Yes, Leary had his inconsistencies. He wasn’t perfect. He missed throws and had stretches where the offense stalled. But context matters.
In 2023, Kentucky’s offense struggled with identity. Protection issues in the early season limited vertical plays. Receivers dropped more passes than almost any group in the country. Yet through it all, Leary delivered some of the most explosive individual performances in recent memory.
Against Tennessee, he threw for 372 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 28 of 39 passes. He followed that with a 307-yard, 2-touchdown outing against Clemson, showcasing his ability to rise to the moment — even when the structure around him wavered.
And those numbers came with one of the highest drop rates in the nation.
The NC State Version, Bottled Up
It’s easy to forget who Leary was before Lexington. At NC State, he wasn’t just productive — he was elite. In 2021, he tallied 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions. He was a Heisman sleeper and one of the most efficient passers in the nation, all while thriving in a fast-paced, vertical attack.
At Kentucky, he had to slow it all down — fewer snaps, shorter throws, less rhythm. The offensive scheme never played to his strengths, but rather forced him to adjust. That he still produced at a top-three level in school history says more about his resilience than his limitations.
A Case Study, Not a Cautionary Tale
The verdict is clear: Devin Leary was not a bust — he was one of the most productive quarterbacks Kentucky has ever had. His 2023 season deserves recognition, not regret.
If anything, Leary’s time in Lexington should serve as a blueprint. Kentucky football must do more to match scheme with skillset, to build systems around their quarterbacks rather than ask them to conform. With better protection, more consistent hands, and a scheme that maximizes a passer’s talents, future QBs could flourish where Leary had to grind.
Conclusion: Time to Put Some Respect on It
So, BBN — maybe it’s time to admit you got it wrong about Devin Leary.
He wasn’t the problem. He was part of the solution. And statistically, he delivered a season that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in Kentucky history.
Criticism is easy. Redemption takes a little perspective. And Devin Leary earned his.