Early Scouting Report: Devin Leary

The Tennessee Volunteers will have to go up against Devin Leary in the well-anticipated matchup against Kentucky this season.

Last season, the Tennessee Volunteers dominated the Kentucky Wildcats in Neyland Stadium. During a game that resulted in a final score of 44-6. The Vols held the visiting Kentucky quarterback Will Levis to just 98 yards and had three interceptions against him. The win would move Tennessee's record to 9-2 against Kentucky since 2012.

However, a new quarterback is at the helm in Lexington-- former N.C. State Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary transferred to Kentucky back in December of 2022. This created new excitement for Wildcat football, and the Vols will have to face him on October 28th at Kroger Field this time around. So just how good was Leary at N.C. State, and can it transfer to the SEC at Kentucky?

Coming off of a 3,000+ yard season that included 35 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 2021, Leary played in just six games last year and was eventually sidelined due to a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in the Wolfpack's win over Florida State. However, during those six games, he showed that he could repeat what he did in 2021. Through those six games he played, he threw for 1,200 yards and had 11 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions.

Leary is a talented quarterback who can put up the numbers to get a team many wins. In 2021 and 2022, he helped the Wolfpack to a 14-4 record combined in games he played. During that stretch, Leary played against one SEC team, Mississippi State, in 2021. It was a game in Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville that the Bulldogs won 24-10. Despite the low scoring, Leary put up 303 yards on 66% passing. He also had a 6-yard average per throw. This was just a sample of the numbers Leary can put up in road SEC environments. It may be a glimpse into what he can do with a full-length SEC schedule. 

Kentucky QB Devin Leary during spring ball in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 21, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Faughender of the Courier Journal and USA Today Network)

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