A transfer from Penn State, Will Levis won the starting job in Kentucky during the offseason, producing quite the highlight reels while in practice. Initially, when I saw the hype, I thought Levis was a lot of unwarranted hype. I couldn’t have been more wrong. His progression as a passer at Kentucky has been incredible to witness as he has polished his mechanics and put everything together. He has all of the tools you want in a quarterback at the next level and can bring a versatile skillset to the table.
Will Levis
QB – Kentucky Wildcats
HT: 6033
WT: 232
Year: Super Junior
High School: Xavier (Middletown, CT)
Rating: 3-star (0.8689)
Projected Draft Grade: Developmental Starter
Projection: 1st Round
The biggest thing that stood out in my evaluation of Levis was the fact that Levis doesn’t have a single defining trait. His arm is good but not great. He has a good release, but it’s not great. His mobility is good but not great. Every facet of his game that you inspect, you find something suitable but nothing outstanding.
That’s not a knock on Levis or his ability – it’s both a blessing and a curse. For him, it’s a chance to bring a lot of level ability and fit into several different systems. Many NFL teams prefer that over any outstanding trait and lacking tools. However, to be a top-tier quarterback in the NFL, you have to have at least one, preferably two, outstanding traits. Levis doesn’t have that and will have to develop those things – which is a very long shot.
Will Levis: Quarterbacking Ability
Arm Talent
Will Levis has flashed some serious arm talent this offseason. He does have an issue with his arm strength and still figuring it out, as he will sail a route or two over the intended receiver. Drives the ball so well with velocity. Effortless passer. The ball comes out beautifully.
He flashes the ability to throw well with touch, but his mechanics last season completely changed when he attempted to. He threw off his back foot a lot to take velocity off his throws.
Release motion is quick, but the release point is very low. This limits Levis’s ability to layer the ball in between coverages. Rapid release from when he starts his set and motion.
Accuracy/Placement
He was pressed into service too early in 2020, as mechanics were still slightly raw, forcing his accuracy slightly off. He’s improved and been more consistent in 2021, which can be attributed to the scheme because of the quick throw/short pass designs that Kentucky mostly runs.
Placement is spotty, tends to struggle with getting it to the right spot. Deep ball placement is mostly off but away from the defender. Levis puts extra emphasis on ensuring his throw is away from the defender. Flashes extraordinary placement on some deep balls.
Pocket Presence
Levis shows that ability to sit well in the pocket. He doesn’t step well into his throws under pressure, tends to step away, and tries to use his arm talent solely.
Moves well naturally to space from the pocket. Impressive natural feel for the play. Does get stone-footed at times and stands tall without movement. Want to see a more consistent performance in this regard. Still learning how to work through pressure and step up in the pocket faster. Would like to see him move around a little bit more.
He gets happy feet when he’s under pressure – which can force him into uncomfortable release angles, and where he tries to force the ball into coverage, he shouldn’t be trying to throw it into. That will come with time to develop – his offensive line wasn’t much of a service to him this year.
Footwork
Will Levis still needs to work on his feet. Has the potential, but he’s still much too stiff in the bottom half.
Good, quick feet. Get’s to his spot and sets very quickly.
Will Levis: Athleticism
Mobility
Has the athleticism to get outside of the pocket. He’s pretty good at throwing off-platform.
Levis is definitely a threat to run with the ball going downfield. Very capable athlete with a strong, physical, downhill running style. He doesn’t look to run often, but he can be very dangerous when he does.
Improvability
He certainly has some improvability to his game, mostly with his legs. Offers some limited improvability making things happen with his arm.
I don’t think Levis is comfortable yet trying to extend plays and keep the play’s structure alive with his movement. He’s flashed moments when he’s been able to do it but just isn’t consistent yet.
Will Levis: Football Intelligence
Football Intelligence
Has absolute command of the Kentucky offense. The chemistry he’s formed with his teammates is extremely impressive already. Would really like to see him work through his progressions effectively under pressure and not take his eyes off the play downfield. Processing has gotten a lot better.
Ability to read pre-snap
A lot of Levis’ mistakes in 2022 were based on bad pre-snap reads, which could be a result of a coaching drop-off. Still, it is concerning as pre-snap reads are vitally important.
Who is Will Levis?
Will Levis is another level of a person. He’s unique, and his teammates gravitate toward him. Fans enjoy him. He will be polarizing because many analysts will disagree that Levis is a top quarterback in this class, but he shouldn’t have any issues gelling with a locker room.
I spoke with Levis at the Music City Bowl this year in the pre-game on the sideline, and my overall impression of him was that he was an honest kid who was very comfortable with himself. He’s himself. He doesn’t try to be anyone special, and holds himself with a high level of professionalism, yet hints at a playful side that peeks at just the right times.
Summary
Will Levis played through injuries in 2022, which showed clearly in his play. He missed a few games but played through injury for the entire second half of the season. He has a few things to clean up, but it’s clear immediately that the upside is here with some of his physical tools.
Some old-school scouts are not pleased by his decision not to play in the Music City Bowl this year, as an AFC Scout told me, “[Levis] had nothing to lose by coming out here to play. Why doesn’t he want to play?” The Senior Bowl appears to be holding a roster spot for him at the All-Star event, awaiting his decision to accept or decline the invitation.
I don’t think we will ever look at Levis as a top-ten NFL quarterback, but he can certainly be in that ten-to-fifteen mix and be a serviceable starter at the next level. Ideally, I would want Levis to play behind a veteran for a year or two. He needs an adjustment period and could benefit tremendously from sitting a season. However, with the need for quarterbacks, that is highly unlikely, and you have to hope he doesn’t continue to build on bad habits early in his career.
