NFL Draft Scout
Featured In/On:
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Selected: Round 2, Pick 2, Overall Pick 33 by Titans
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Name: Will Levis (+) Coming off Oct 2022 Finger/Foot INJs...Transfer from Penn State
College: Kentucky
Number: 7
School Bio/Stats Link: HERE
Height: 6-4 Weight: 229
Position: Pos2:
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2023
40 Low: 4.62 40 Time: 4.70 40 High: 4.78
> Projected Round: Stock: 
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Data Scout Notes: **Returning for 2022/Strong Arm/Moxie/Bulldog Runner/Faster/More ATH 2022: NAC...(+) Coming off Oct 2022 Finger/Foot INJs...PUnitas/P3rdC/PManning/PWCampPOY/PMaxwell/PDaveyOBrien...2021: NAC...Transfer from Penn State...2020: NAC
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Pro Day Results |
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6037
Weight: 229
Zybek PD3X AKA "Official"
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225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 10'04"
20 Yrd Shuttle:
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No Full Workout-Choice
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Dates: 03/24/23
Hand: 10 5/8 Arm: 32
Wingspan: 78 1/8
Height: 6037
Weight: 229
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Position Drills Only
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Will Levis, Kentucky, Player News
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Kentucky football will play its bowl game without star quarterback Will Levis. Levis, who played through injuries for most of the 2022 season, announced Wednesday he would opt out of the Wildcats' bowl game in order to focus on returning to 100% in advan ce of the 2023 NFL Draft. Levis is widely projected as a first-round draft pick and one of the top quarterbacks in the draft class. Kentucky is scheduled to face Iowa in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31 in Nashville.Despite playing just two seasons for Kentucky, Levis ranks fifth in program history in passing touchdowns (43) and total offensive yards (5,502) and sixth in passing yards (5,233). His 3,203 yards of total offense in 2021 were sixth most by a Wildcat in a single season. Kentucky was 17- 7 in games Levis started at quarterback. He was behind center for just the second 10-win season for Kentucky since 1977 in his first season as starter. Levis started two wins against Florida and two wins against Louisville. - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023  QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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Kentucky quarterback Will Levis announced Wednesday on social media he will declare for the NFL draft and skip the Wildcats' upcoming Music City Bowl against Iowa. Projected as a first-round selection next spring, Levis completed 65% of his passes for 2, 406 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 11 games for Kentucky (7-5). The Penn State transfer won 17 games over two seasons at Kentucky. He thanked Wildcat coaches, teammates and fans in his Twitter post and expressed gratitude for helping hi m find confidence, success and lasting friendships at the university. The senior Levis was a preseason All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection after passing for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 376 yards and nine tou chdowns. - AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: AP College Football
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Will Levis passed for two touchdowns, including a 3-yarder to Barion Brown in the third quarter, Matt Ruffolo kicked a career-best four field goals and Kentucky topped archrival Louisville 26-13 on Saturday for its fourth consecutive Governor's Cup victo ry. The Wildcats (7-5) limped in with five losses in seven games but regrouped to overwhelm the Cardinals in all phases. Kentucky's defense harassed Cardinal quarterbacks Brock Domann and Malik Cunningham and forced a turnover from each leading to 10 poi nts. Trevin Wallace's third-quarter interception of Cunningham and 19-yard return to the Louisville 16 was especially critical, setting up Levis' scoring pass to Brown three plays later for a 23-7 lead that put the game out of reach. Earlier, JJ Weaver s tripped Domann of the football on a sack and returned it to the 6, setting up Ruffolo's second field goal from 29 yards to make it 13-0.Levis was 11 of 19 passing for 188 yards. Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed 24 times for 120 yards and broke the schoo l record with his 20th 100-yard performance. Ruffolo converted from 43, 29, 35 and 40 yards along with making both extra points for Kentucky. Louisville's Jawhar Jordan rushed 22 times for 145 yards. Cunningham, a four-year starter, relieved an ineffecti ve Domann in the second quarter and got Louisville (7-5, No. 25 CFP) within 13-7 just before halftime with a 6-yard TD run. Domann' 27-yard TD pass to Tyler Hudson midway through the fourth cut the deficit to 26-13, but his two-point conversion run came up short after review. Both struggled to get anything going offensively for the Cardinals, who played catch-up all night after winning five of six coming in and entering the College Football Playoff rankings last week. - Rice/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Rice/AP College Football
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Kentucky football fans will have to wait until Saturday to learn if star quarterback Will Levis plays against South Carolina on Saturday. Levis suffered an foot/ankle injury and dislocated a finger on his non-throwing hand in the loss at Ole Miss but was able to play through both ailments in the second half. The finger did not require surgery to fix, but the other injury has reportedly caused Levis to miss practice time this week. Levis was spotted wearing a walking boot on his left foot Thursday. After a day of reports about the possibility that his star quarterback would be unavailable against South Carolina, UK Coach Mark Stoops had no update on Levis' status after Thursday's practice. "I have no news," Stoops said. "My policy is always if somebody is out, I'd tell you. I don't have anybody out. If I had somebody out, I'd tell you." Later in his post-practice news conference, Stoops did clarify that linebacker Jacquez Jones was "highly doubtful" to play against South Carolina.Thursday's prac tice is a walk-through for Kentucky each week in which players do not wear full pads. The team has another padded practice on Friday that could determine availability for the game, but Stoops will not address reporters again before the 7:30 p.m. game Sat urday. Reports that Levis might not play against South Carolina first surfaced Wednesday night as the betting line on the game decreased from 10 points in favor of Kentucky to six. Widely projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Levis ranks 24th nationally in passing yards per game (281) through five games. He has thrown 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Protecting Levis has been a problem for Kentucky for much of the season. The Wildcats rank 127th of 131 teams in sacks allowed (19). Levis has been sacked at least three times in each game this season. - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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That finger on Will Levis' hand didn't look good. But the Kentucky quarterback is "fine," coach Mark Stoops said Monday, after dislocating a finger on his left, non-throwing hand in Saturday's 22-19 loss at Ole Miss. Although "fine" is relative. "I mean, how would your finger be if it was sideways and you put it back in?" Stoops said. "But it doesn't need surgery, let's put it that way. So that's a great thing." That's about as forthcoming as Stoops was on the injury front at his weekly news conference Monday. No. 13 Kentucky (4-1, 1-1 SEC) has bumps and bruises entering its Saturday home game against South Carolina (3-2, 0-2). Stoops didn't elaborate much beyond that, but he didn't rule out a return for a pair of key defensive players. - Courier Journ al
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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Will Levis tied a career best with four touchdown passes, including critical scores of 70 and 40 yards to Barion Brown and Tayvion Robinson, respectively, after halftime, and No. 8 Kentucky held off Northern Illinois 31-23 on Saturday night. After allowi ng the pesky Huskies a tying touchdown seconds before halftime, Levis put the Wildcats (4-0) ahead 21-14 just 58 seconds into the third quarter by hitting Brown across the middle on third and 10. Coming a snap after the senior quarterback was nearly inte rcepted, it was just what Kentucky needed to gain room from a NIU squad unfazed by being 26-point underdogs. Matt Ruffolo's 49-yard field goal later in the third provided a 10-point cushion and came during a hot stretch in which Levis completed eight con secutive attempts. Levis later found Tayvion Robinson, who spun off a tackle and ran 40 yards for his second TD to make it 31-17 with 8:46 remaining.That cushion helped as the Huskies fought back to within 31-23 with 2:47 left on Justin Lynch's 2- yard run after a defensive holding penalty. Ethan Hampton's two-point conversion pass failed, Kentucky recovered the onside kick and Levis knelt to seal the win. Levis overcame five sacks to complete 18 of 26 passes for 303 yards, his third 300-yard effo rt this season, with chunk plays comprising each TD. Robinson (seven catches, 147 yards) also had a 69-yard score on a crossing pass just as Levis was a second away from a crushing sack. Brown caught four passes for 102 yards and two scores, including a 15-yarder on Kentucky's first possession. NIU (1-3) drove 75 yards on the opening possession for Hampton's 2-yard TD pass to Tristan Tewes, who also snagged a 3-yard score from Shemar Thornton six seconds before halftime. The Huskies made it a one-score game late but lost their third in a row and second in as many weeks to a Southeastern Conference school. - Kentucky/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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Will Levis accounted for three touchdowns, Kavosiey Smoke ran for a score and No. 9 Kentucky shook off a slow start to shut out Youngstown State 31-0 on Saturday. Boosted by its first top-10 ranking since October 2007, the Wildcats (3-0) followed up last week's Southeastern Conference win at Florida by physically dominating the FCS Penguins (2-1) in the inaugural meeting. Kentucky outgained YSU 480-192 on the way to its first shutout since beating Miami (Ohio) 42-0 on Sept. 5, 2009. The Wildcats gave co ach Mark Stoops a victory over his hometown school.Levis posted his second 300-yard effort in three games, completing 27 of 35 attempts for 377 with sparkling catches by his receivers. He hit Dane Key and Chris Lewis with TD passes of 3 and 2 yard s, respectively, and rushed for a 1-yard TD early in the second quarter. That run jump-started the Wildcats after a scoreless opening period in which promising drives stalled and Youngstown's Troy Jakubec intercepted Levis at the 3. Tayvion Robinson's 15 -yard catch-and-run across the middle and attempted hurdle over a defender helped set up Levis' TD on third down. Kentucky scored on four of its next five possessions, a stretch split up by a fumble on a day it committed three turnovers with two intercep tions by Levis. - Kentucky/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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No. 20 Kentucky beat No. 12 Florida, 26-16, in The Swamp, making Mark Stoops the winningest head coach in Kentucky football history. Stoops passed Bear Bryant on Kentucky's all-time wins list with 61. With the win, the Wildcats jumped 10 spots to No. 10 in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches poll. - American Football Coaches Association
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: American Football Coaches Association
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ESPN TOP 100 PRESEASON 2022 CFB PLAYERS (Selected Aug. 17): No. 33. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky, Senior, Notable 2021 stats: 2,826 yards, 24 TDs. Last year's ranking: NR. After being used primarily as a runner at Penn State, Levis enters his second season a t Kentucky projected to be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the 2023 NFL draft. He's still a major threat to run the ball with his 6-3, 232-pound frame, but showed last season with his 2,827 passing yards and 24 touchdowns that he's equally effective at beating teams with his strong right arm. - ESPN.com
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: ESPN.com
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2022 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-SEC THIRD TEAM: QB - Will Levis, Kentucky,...Levis, a 6-foot-3, 232-pound senior from Madison, Connecticut, is entering his second year as the starter at quarterback. He had an impressive debut season for the Wildcats after tra nsferring from Penn State in 2021. In 13 games, he threw for 2,827 yards and 24 scores, while rushing for 376 net yards and nine touchdowns. His 24 TD passes were the most since Andre' Woodson had 40 in 2007. He totaled 3,203 yards of total offense, the seventh player in school history to reach 3,000 yards of total offense in a season. - Kentucky Fotball
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky Fotball
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2022 PRESEASON MANNING AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Will Levis, Sr., Kentucky,...In 13 games last season, Levis completed 233 of 353 passes for 2,827 yards and 24 scores, while rushing for 376 yards and nine touchdowns. His 24 TD passes were the most sinc e Andre' Woodson had 40 in 2007. He totaled 3,202 yards of total offense, the seventh player in school history to reach 3,000 yards of total offense in a season. - Kentucky Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky Football
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For just the fifth time in program history, Kentucky football will enter a season ranked in at least one of the major polls. The Wildcats were slotted at No. 21 in the USA Today coaches poll released Monday. Kentucky was ranked fourth among SEC teams, be hind No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia and No. 7 Texas A&M. Arkansas (23) and Ole Miss (24) were the other SEC teams included in the top 25. Kentucky has been ranked in the preseason Associated Press poll four times in program history: 1950, 1951, 1957 and 19 78. Two years ago, UK was not ranked in either the preseason AP or coaches polls but did debut in both polls' first in-season update before actually playing a game. The 2022 preseason AP poll will be released later this month. The No. 21 ranking represen ts a six-spot drop from where Kentucky finished last season. The Wildcats were No. 15 in the final 2021 coaches poll. UK was also ranked 18th in last season's final AP poll, marking the 10th time in program history the Wildcats had been ranked in a seaso n's final poll. - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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Will Levis may want to watch his back this fall, but he insists he won't. Though Kentucky's acclaimed quarterback will be depending on a pair of inexperienced left tackles for blocking on his blind side, he said his eyes will be aimed elsewhere. "If I'm thinking about who's in an offensive line or what's going on, then that's just one more thing I have to put on my plate," Levis said Wednesday afternoon during the Wildcats' media day. "And I really just have to use my instincts and just feel in the pock et to understand when things are breaking down or when there are moments where I might need to be escaping or moving up."Levis was sacked 23 times last season - roughly once for every 10 passes he completed - but that total likely would have been much lower were he less willing to run under duress rather than throw the ball away. Chris Rodriguez was the only Kentucky back to log more carries from scrimmage than did Levis last year. Both players scored nine rushing touchdowns. "I have full confide nce in our (offensive line) unit," Levis said. "And no matter who's up there, if they're the No. 1 player in the country, they are still going to get beat every so often. You're going to have to rely on instincts and be able to move in the pocket and ste p up and make those throws. It's something you can't really think about." - Courier Journal
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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2022 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF YEAR PLAYER TO WATCH: Will Levis, QB, senior, Kentucky,...Levis is entering his second year as the starter at quarterback. He had an impressive debut season for the Wildcats after transferring from Penn State in 2021. In 13 games, he threw for 2,827 yards and 24 scores, while rushing for 376 yards and nine touchdowns. - Kentucky Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky Football
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Mark Stoops may usually be reluctant to contribute to the preseason hype machine for his Kentucky football players, but even he cannot help but brag on quarterback Will Levis this summer. "We have to have some play-makers step up at the wide receiver pos ition because we have a beast of a quarterback," Stoops said during his appearance at SEC Media Days Wednesday. Stoops made it clear where he stands on the topic of whether Levis can earn a spot in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. "I'm not going to lie, when I watch him at times, I mean, it does kind of blow you away," Stoops said. "You just watch him maybe on a windy day, there's gusts coming at you, and the way he rips the football, the way he throws it, the way he works, he's exceptional. "I do n't worry about him, talking about him like that, because he's very self-driven. He's worried about getting better. He works his tail off every day."A year ago, Levis had not even been named Kentucky's starting quarterback yet. He had been pigeon- holed as a change-of-pace, run-first backup at Penn State. While he was viewed as the favorite to win Kentucky's starting job after being recruited out of the transfer portal by offensive coordinator Liam Coen, he faced significant competition from multi ple quarterbacks who enjoyed the head start of a full spring practice to learn Coen's system. Levis wasted little time winning the respect of his teammates and establishing himself as the obvious choice to start for Kentucky after arriving on campus. The re were moments of inconsistency during his first season as a Wildcat, but he led Kentucky to its second 10-win season since 1977 while totaling more than 3,000 yards of offense. - Courier Journal
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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Mark Stoops and company will have a more difficult time selling the disrespect narrative leading up to the 2022 season. Reporters attending the SEC's annual media days event in Atlanta this week have voted the Wildcats second in the preseason SEC East po ll, behind only defending national champion Georgia. Four voters picked Kentucky to win the division. No Kentucky player was picked to the media's preseason All-SEC first team, but running back Chris Rodriguez and offensive guard Kenneth Horsey were seco nd-team selections. Quarterback Will Levis was voted to the third team, behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker on the first and second teams. Summer projections have generally placed Kentucky in a group of several teams fighting to separate themselves behind preseason favorites Alabama and Georgia. - Courier Journal
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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The SEC in 2022 is not without excellent quarterbacks. Alabama's Bryce Young. Tennessee's Hendon Hooker. Georgia's Stetson Bennett. Arkansas' KJ Jefferson. None, however, not even Young, returning Heisman Trophy winner, has felt the summer spotlight quit e like Kentucky's Will Levis. Such was Wednesday's backdrop as the Wildcats' signal-caller arrived at the College Football Hall of Fame for the SEC Football Media Days, front and center for those curious about the prospect many NFL scouts believe is a po tential first-round pick in next year's draft. Even the first overall pick. "I try not to pay too much attention to it," Levis said during a meeting with the Kentucky media inside the Omni Hotel. "It's impossible for me not to see it. And it's cool. I ac knowledge it. My family will send it to me and it's cool for them, as well."It's cool for the Cats. Not since Andre Woodson in 2007 has Kentucky arrived at the annual SEC football talkfest promoting its starting quarterback, much less one with suc h professional potential. It's worth repeating: The 6-foot-3 232-pounder from Connecticut, via Penn State, has all the traits the next level covets in an NFL quarterback. "He can make all the throws," UK Coach Mark Stoops told the conference media on Wed nesday. "Everything about him, he's exceptional. And I don't worry about saying that, because he's very self-driven." - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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Kentucky football recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow may have already taken to Twitter this week to push back at one SEC reporter's perception of the Wildcats, but UK's representatives at SEC Media Days Wednesday were not as quick to embrace the annual disrespect angle. That does not mean they are not focused on proving doubters wrong though. "We know what our goals are, which is to be back here in December in Atlanta," quarterback Will Levis said. "We break it down on that, everything we do. We just w ant to make sure everything we do is in line with that goal." Few outside the Kentucky locker room will pick the Wildcats to win the SEC East championship. Since the league split into two divisions in 1992, Kentucky has never reached the conference champ ionship game. The East is home to defending national champion Georgia, which has won the division in four of the last five seasons.Meanwhile Tennessee and South Carolina, entering the second season under new coaches, are the subject of summer buzz . Kentucky has routinely been included in preseason Top 25 rankings released this summer but often between at least two division opponents. A panel of USA TODAY network SEC beat reporters picked Kentucky third in the East earlier this week. But confidenc e remains high in the UK locker room, thanks in large part to the return of Levis, who is widely projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. "I came back to win," said super-senior linebacker DeAndre Square. "I really want this SEC championshi p. A lot of the guys do, too. That's the focus. We have player-led meetings all the time, and I always say if your mind is not on the SEC championship, don't even come to practice. That's the standard." - Courier Journal
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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2022 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Will Levis, Kentucky,...Quarterback Will Levis Levis transferred to the University of Kentucky in 2021, after having graduated that May from Penn State's Smeal College of Business with a bachelor's degree in finan ce. He was named the starter to open the season and in his first start threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns. Levis started all 13 games for Kentucky, completing 233 of 353 passes for 2,827 yards and 24 touchdown passes while running for 376 yards and 9 touchdowns on 107 rushes. Levis led the team to its second 10-win season since 2018, including defeating No. 15 Iowa in the 2022 Citrus Bowl. He achieved a measure of social media fame in 2021 with viral videos depicting quirky food habits, specificall y drinking coffee with mayonnaise and eating bananas with the peel. - Kentucky Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky Football
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2022 PRESEASON DAVEY O'BRIEN NATIONAL QUARTERBACK AWARD WATCH LIST: Will Levis, Kentucky, Sr., 6-3, 232, Madison, Conn.,...In 13 games in 2021 Levis completed 233 of 353 passes for 2,827 yards and 24 scores, while rushing for 376 yards and nine touchdown s. His 24 TD passes were the most since Andre' Woodson had 40 in 2007. He totaled 3,202 yards of total offense, the seventh player in school history to reach 3,000 yards of total offense in a season. - Kentucky Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky Football
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Kentucky football's Will Levis is one of the 45 quarterbacks participating in the Manning Passing Challenge at the Manning Passing Academy. Also among those on the list are Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young of Alabama, Ohio State's CJ Stroud, Georgia's S tetson Bennett, Tennessee's Hendon Hooker, Arkansas' KJ Jefferson and Western Kentucky's Jarret Doege. - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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Few NFL Draft hopefuls received more 2023 hype - seemingly out of the blue - than Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. Some mocks have him as a legitimate top-10 pick despite a roller coaster first year as Kentucky's starter after transferring in from Penn S tate. The traits are there, with a huge arm and better running ability than most collegiate signal callers. He struggled a bit in 2021 against stronger competition and definitely needs to improve his consistency. The 2022 season offers him an opportunity to salve both issues and prove his worth. - Kentucky Sports
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky Sports
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Game times and broadcast info for the University of Kentucky's first three home football games were released by the Southeastern Conference on Thursday. UK's season opener against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 3 will kick off at 7 p.m. and air only on digital ne tworks. The game will be available on ESPN Plus, a premium subscription service, and SEC Network Plus, which is accessible via an ESPN Plus subscription or by providing log-in information available from one's cable provider. Kentucky's second game of the season, at Florida on Sept. 10, will also kick off at 7 p.m. That matchup, UK's only game in September against a Power Five program, will air on ESPN. UK's game against Youngstown State on Sept. 17 will air at noon on SEC Network. - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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Former Kentucky QB Tim Couch said he's only met Will Levis once in person but that the two have texted some. He hopes to interact with him more in the coming months, over which Levis will be more closely watched than ever before. Levis is still raw and n eeds to demonstrate growth from last year to this season, Couch said, but based on what he saw from him over the course of UK's final five games in 2021, he thinks Levis has what it takes to be a first-rounder come April. "You look at the physical traits , his size, the arm strength obviously, his ability to run and make plays with his legs, his leadership, his toughness, he has all the qualities that you look for in a guy that's gonna be a high pick in the draft. He's got everything that you want. "You just want to see him this year take it to another level with his accuracy and decision-making, some things that every quarterback can improve on as they mature in the system and more opportunities to play. He's got all the potential in the world. He just has to go out and take advantage of it." - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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For those of us who actually watched Levis take every snap in 2022, the pro hype is no surprise. Levis has the size. He's 6-foot-3, 232 pounds and solid. He has the arm strength. He can grip-it-and-rip-it. He's mobile. He has the leadership abilities. Pr actically from the moment Levis stepped on campus, after transferring from Penn State, he has embraced being the face of the program. He also played in an NFL-style offense last year under then-coordinator Liam Coen, who brought Sean McVay's playbook to Lexington. And Levis will do so again in 2022, if in a slightly different NFL offense. After Coen returned to Los Angeles to be the Rams' offensive coordinator, Mark Stoops hired Kyle Shanahan's quarterbacks coach, Rich Scangarello, to add a San Francisc o 49ers' twist to what Coen started.Still, the guess here is that those bullish on Levis expect him to take another step forward next season. He was 233-of-353 last year for 2,826 yards with 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The scouts would lov e to see a rise in the TD numbers and a decline in the turnovers. Levis says his goal is to raise his completion percentage from 66 percent last year to 70 percent this season. It's a worthy goal. Seven FBS quarterbacks completed 70 percent of their pass es in 2021. Eight did so in 2020, including two quarterbacks now starting in the NFL - New England's Mac Jones and the New York Jets' Zach Wilson. Levis will be breaking in a nearly new receiving corps. Gone is Wan'Dale Robinson, a second-round pick of t he New York Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft. Gone too is the dependable Josh Ali. - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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Kentucky's Will Levis is projected as a first-round NFL pick in most early mock drafts for 2023. "It's cool, but I mean, it doesn't matter," he said. "It's random media people with their own opinions. Obviously, anything you see with that doesn't guarant ee anything. If anything, it's just kind of cool to hear and see. But I don't want to spend time and attention on that." That's a wise attitude to have for a litany of reasons, but especially because we're just barely less than a year away from next year 's draft. Most of last year's "way-too-early" mocks had North Carolina's Sam Howell as the best quarterback in the draft class and projected as a top-10 selection; he ended up getting picked in the fifth round and was the sixth quarterback selected. A lo t can change in a year.Stoops said Levis deserves the preseason hype. "I know this, I know Will," Stoops said. "I know how motivated he is. It'll drive him to see any quarterback taken in front of him because I believe he believes he can be the No . 1 quarterback taken. He has that kind of ability and I think he's gonna have that kind of year." The trickle-down effect of having a quarterback with that kind of outlook matters, too. "They make people around them better," Stoops said. "He's a great l eader, he's competitive. It's not just about him, it's about the team. Those kind of guys make a difference. I really like where we're at." - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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With a 10-win season on his resume, Will Levis has already cemented his status as one of the most successful quarterbacks in Kentucky football history. But a year from now, Levis could make a different kind of impact on the UK record book. No Kentucky qu arterback has been picked in the NFL draft since Andre Woodson in the sixth round in 2008. Only three UK quarterbacks have been drafted since 1966. No former UK quarterback has thrown a touchdown pass in the NFL since Tim Couch in 2003.In January, ESPN tabbed Levis as a "potential Day 2 pick next year," but is there room for even more growth as an NFL prospect? "He's got everything they're looking for to be a high pick, to be a franchise quarterback," Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said in April. "Th e sky is the limit for him there." In his first season as a full-time starter - after two years as a backup at Penn State - Levis completed 66% of his passes for 2,827 yards and 24 touchdowns for Kentucky last season. He also rushed for 376 yards and nin e more touchdowns. - Courier Journal
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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Will Levis rushed for career highs of four touchdowns and 113 yards, and Kentucky scored on its first four possessions to cruise past rival Louisville 52-21 on Saturday night and win the Governor's Cup for the third consecutive time. Big contributions by his feet and arm helped the Wildcats' junior quarterback outgain Louisville by himself (195-144) by halftime. Levis rushed for TDs of 29 and 7 yards on their first two possessions, then followed Matt Ruffolo's 43-yard field goal with a 5-yard score with 1:53 remaining in the second quarter. He added a 1-yard TD early in the third to put Kentucky (9-3) up 31-7 on the way to topping his previous rushing best of 108 yards against Rutgers on Nov. 30, 2019 while at Penn State.Levis also completed 14 of 18 passes for 149 yards to outshine Louisville counterpart Malik Cunningham in a matchup of mobile quarterbacks. Cunningham rushed for 2-yard TD to tie the game at 7-apiece and completed 12 of 20 passes for 145 yards before being taken to the dressing room with 10 minutes left. Evan Conley came in and threw an 8-yard TD pass and Maurice Burkley rushed for an 7-yard TD with eight seconds left for the Cardinals (6-6). Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed 16 times for 121 yards and a 2-yard TD, Kavoisey Smoke add ed a 13-yard score and La'Vell Wright one from 41 yards. Wan'Dale Robinson caught nine passes for 97 yards. - Kentucky/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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Will Levis overcame an early fumble to throw for four touchdowns and 419 yards as Kentucky cruised past New Mexico State 56-16 in Saturday's home finale. The Wildcats (8-3) earned their 14th consecutive nonconference victory behind Levis, who completed 2 1 of 31 passes to become the first Kentucky quarterback to surpass 400 yards since Andre Woodson against Tennessee in 2007. Things didn't start so well for the junior QB, who couldn't corral a high snap on the first series and fumbled, which Trevor Broha rd ultimately returned 25 yards to give the Aggies a 7-0 lead.Kentucky outscored NMSU 56-9 from there, including Quandre Mosley's 38-yard interception return to make it 14-7. Levis threw touchdown passes of 32 and 2 yards to Justin Riggs and 9 and 62 yards to Josh Ali. Wan'dale Robinson had eight receptions for 181 yards and became Kentucky's first 1,000-yard receiver under coach Mark Stoops. Chris Rodriguez Jr. overcame a fumble inside the Aggies' 5 to rush for 119 yards on 16 carries and a touc hdown as the Wildcats rolled up a season-high 707 yards. The Aggies (1-10) did move the ball effectively at times, but settled for three Ethan Albertson field goals before halftime. New Mexico State managed just 282 yards. - Kentucky/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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OCT 10 WALTER CAMP NATIONAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WILL LEVIS, KENTUCKY, Junior, Quarterback, Madison, CT/Xavier HS,...Will Levis accounted for five touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) as 16th-ranked Kentucky defeated LSU, 42-21. Levis threw for 14 5 yards (14-of-17) and three scores, and rushed for 75 yards and two more touchdowns as the Wildcats remained unbeaten (6-0, 3-0 in SEC). Notes: Will Levis joins teammate Jacquez Jones (Oct. 3, 2021) and former Wildcat linebacker Josh Allen (Nov. 4, 2018 ) as Walter Camp National Player of Week honorees since 2004 from Kentucky. - The Walter Camp Football Foundation
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: The Walter Camp Football Foundation
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Will Levis' short touchdown passes stood out because his throwing touch has been a work in progress. The gutsy Kentucky quarterback continued to show how he can take and give hits rushing the ball, spinning free from several tackles during one run before carrying a few LSU defenders a few extra yards for a highlight-worthy clip. Both impressive skills helped the No. 16 Wildcats earn their most remarkable victory this season. Levis threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more scores and Kentucky domin ated LSU throughout in a 42-21 blowout Saturday night.The Wildcats have their first 6-0 start since 1950, improved to 4-0 in the Southeastern Conference and earned a second consecutive win over a conference heavyweight. Kentucky beat then-No. 10 F lorida 20-13 last week. The Wildcats' biggest challenge looms at No. 2 Georgia next week in an East Division showdown, and they'll enter with their best performance since the season opener. Levis had a huge hand in that, with the QB bouncing back from a lackluster stretch to account for three second-half scores alone as Kentucky pulled away to a 35-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Penn State transfer sandwiched TD passes of 25, 11 and 3 yards between rushing scores of 5 and 1 yards as the Wildcat s outgained the Tigers 475-408, though much of LSU's yardage came after the game was out of reach. - Kentucky/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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Will Levis overcame two interceptions to throw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Izayah Cummings, safety Tyrell Ajian returned an interception 95 yards with 7:40 remaining, and Kentucky rallied past Chattanooga 28-23 on Saturday. Considered overmatched in their first meeting against the Southeastern Conference school, the FCS Mocs (1-2) slowly turned a seven-point deficit into a 16-14 lead early in the fourth on Aaron Sears' 30-yard field goal.The Wildcats (3-0) awoke to drive 77 yards for the g o-ahead TD, helped by Levis' 21-yard run and a defensive pass interference penalty before the QB hit Cummings with a 31-yard TD pass with 10:18 left. Kentucky's TD was huge considering it had either turned it over or punted the six previous possessions. For a minute the Wildcats appeared on the brink of becoming this season's latest upset victim to an FCS school, a concern Levis sensed during Friday's practice. - Kentucky Football/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky Football/AP College Football
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Will Levis came to Kentucky expecting this kind of performance, though his first time out created a tough act to follow. Levis threw for career highs of 367 yards and four touchdowns in his Wildcats debut, including two to fellow transfer Wan'Dale Robins on, and Kentucky overcame an early hole to blow out Louisiana Monroe 45-10 in Saturday's season opener. Playing on a sunny afternoon before its biggest crowd (in nearly two years following a season of COVID-19-related attendance restrictions, the Wildcat s shrugged off a 7-0 deficit after a turnover to overwhelm the rebuilding Warhawks.Unveiling a new pro set offense with former Penn State quarterback Levis behind center, Kentucky piled up 341 of its 564 yards by halftime alone to lead 28-7 and on ly allowed the Warhawks past midfield twice besides after the giveaway. The offensive numbers thoroughly demonstrated Levis' grasp of new coordinator Liam Coen's up-tempo scheme that ULM couldn't stop before 47,693. After his first pass went off Josh Ali 's fingertips to ULM's Jabari Johnson, the junior quickly regrouped to deliver the flashy plays Kentucky lacked last season. - Kentucky/AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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There's more to playing quarterback than a strong arm. Will Levis can spin it. No doubt about that. Kentucky's new starting quarterback has the arm talent college coaches crave. He has been working on his mechanics, fine-tuning the touch on his intermedi ate and short throws, and putting in the time in front of the video screen. But when Levis was asked Tuesday about what he needs to work on, now that he has been officially named the Wildcats' No. 1 quarterback, the Penn State transfer pointed to a facet of the job description that has little to do with out routes."Being a leader for this team," Levis said. "And learning how to connect with all the guys the best way possible. Everybody is going to be led effectively differently. Obviously, since I'm new here, I've spent these last few months getting to know these guys. It's going to take a lot of effort to really get their trust and show that I can lead them effectively in whatever situation we find ourselves in." Like it or not, the quarterback is the face of the program. And QB1 should be player No. 1 when it comes to leadership. He should have command of not just the playbook, but the locker room, and in a way that translates for public consumption. As Mark Stoops has often said, there are p osition battles all over the roster during a team's training camp, but the quarterback battle always draws the most interest. "It is what it is," Stoops said Sunday. "We understand that." - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
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He has only been in Lexington a few months, but Will Levis is officially the big man on campus. University of Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops officially announced Levis as the starting quarterback during an impromptu Sunday news conference, anno unced minutes after reports surfaced that he had addressed the team to inform them of the decision. Levis' efficiency in running UK's offense through two weeks of camp, including the team's first scrimmage on Saturday, was a difference-maker. Stoops said he's completed 74 percent of his passes on what he called "gradable snaps" and that he threw a 65-yard touchdown pass on his first live play in Saturday's scrimmage."He has a lot of talent," Stoops said. "He's been doing some things really good. He's been very efficient. He's got unbelievable arm strength. He's a big, strong guy. He won the job." Levis' performance in Saturday's scrimmage left quite an impression on Stoops, who said all three quarterbacks vying for the starting job - Levis, juni or Joey Gatewood and sophomore Beau Allen - had done well in camp. It was "clear," though, following the Cats' first scrimmage, who should get the ball when UK hosts Louisiana Monroe on Sept. 4. Stoops lauded Levis' presence in the locker room, which was thought by some to be a potential road block to him being named the starter since he'd only been around since May. "I feel very clear on this decision," Stoops said. - Herald Leader
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
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Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has named Penn State transfer Will Levis as the Wildcats' starting quarterback over holdovers Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen. Levis arrived in June and had to quickly pick up new offensive coordinator Liam Coen's pro style system that promises to speed up the Southeastern Conference worst passing attack last season in yards per game (124.1). The junior began camp expected to compete with Gatewood and Allen, who had a jump on the system this spring, and Stoops said on media day t hat he wanted to "get it right than be in a hurry" in making a choice.He informed the QBs of his decision on Sunday before announcing in a virtual news conference. Stoops added that Gatewood, an Auburn transfer who played in seven games last seaso n, planned to enter the NCAA transfer portal. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Levis completed 61 of 102 passes for 644 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in 15 games over three seasons for the Nittany Lions. He will make his Kentucky debut on Sept . 4 against Louisiana-Monroe. - AP College Football
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
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One of Penn State's most productive offensive players and one of its top defensive recruits from the 2019 class likely will be playing elsewhere this fall. Quarterback Will Levis, who temporarily claimed the starting job last season and spent most of the second half splitting time with Sean Clifford, announced Thursday he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. So, too, is Lance Dixon, a one-time five-star recruit who played sparingly the last two seasons as a backup outside linebacker. Levis' decision is somewhat of a surprise, but it also might be an indicator of change coming at the quarterback position as offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich settles into his new role. As a sophomore, Levis provided a spark and some stability to Penn State's erratic offense last season, completing 33 of 55 passes for 421 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 260 yards and three scores, starting two games. - Tribune Review
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
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Levis had an opportunity to solidify himself as the team's backup quarterback - and even as a legitimate threat to become the starter - when Clifford left the game against Ohio State with an injury. He started the following week against Rutgers in an off ense that looked almost nothing like the one the Nittany Lions ran for most of the season. They finished the game with only 15 passing attempts and 46 rushing attempts, including 17 by Levis. The full game against the Scarlet Knights and the partial game against the Buckeyes are the two best evaluation opportunities of Levis available, and neither should inspire confidence that he can lead a pass-heavy attack or an offense that doesn't run the quarterback often.The sophomore has remarkable arm st rength - along with power and athleticism as a runner - but is raw as a passer. His insertion into the Ohio State game sparked the offense and gave the Nittany Lions their only real offensive momentum of the matchup, but that can largely be attributed to the drastic change in offensive style with Levis at quarterback. Penn State went to its run-heavy attack to take pressure off the quarterback and put him in position to succeed in a difficult situation. - Centre Times
(DS#4 QB) rSr/2023 QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Centre Times
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