Blessed with NFL size and arm talent, can Levis overcome the intangible deficiencies in his game?
University of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was a Connecticut prep standout prior to attending Penn State for two seasons and failing to earn the starting job. Thus, he transferred to Kentucky and became the primary passer in the 2021 as a redshirt junior, which proved to be his finest season.
An offensive coordinator change and failure to adapt by the 2022 staff, in addition to shoulder and turf toe injuries suffered by Levis, led to him taking a step backward statistically as a senior. His interception ratio increased slightly from the prior year, and Levis experienced a dip in touchdown efficiency as well.
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 229 pounds
40 time: N/A
Any team looking to draft Levis isn’t putting as much stock into his collegiate career as with some other prospects, and most of the incentive to draft him is based on what may be yet to come.
Table: Will Levis stats (2019-22)
| Year |
School |
Class |
G |
Passing |
Rushing |
| Cmp |
Att |
Pct |
Yds |
AY/A |
TD |
Int |
Att |
Yds |
TD |
| *2019 |
Penn State |
rFr |
6 |
28 |
47 |
59.6 |
223 |
3.7 |
2 |
2 |
51 |
213 |
3 |
| 2020 |
Penn State |
rSo |
8 |
33 |
55 |
60.0 |
421 |
8.0 |
1 |
0 |
82 |
260 |
3 |
| *2021 |
Kentucky |
rJr |
13 |
233 |
353 |
66.0 |
2,826 |
7.7 |
24 |
13 |
107 |
376 |
9 |
| *2022 |
Kentucky |
rSr |
11 |
185 |
283 |
65.4 |
2,406 |
8.3 |
19 |
10 |
72 |
-107 |
2 |
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
Pros
- Strong arm and can make all of the NFL throws with ease
- Prototypical frame for a pocket passer
- Has taken snaps under center and in shotgun, showing system versatility
- Plays through injury and has shown the ability to take a big hit
- Compact throwing motion with a snappy release
- Makes off-platform throws look natural
- Pretty good feel for QB sneaks, particularly around the stripe
- Moves around the pocket well enough as long as he sees the rush ahead of time
- Team leader with strong character traits
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Cons
- His worst shortcoming of all is a glaring lack of pocket presence — struggles to sense unseen pressure until it’s too late
- Inconsistent lower-body mechanics
- Tends to play well in spurts rather than build a consistent rhythm
- Questionable decision-making traits, more so when coming off his first read
- Too reliant on his arm strength, which leads to costly turnovers
- Needs to improve touch and ball placement on easy throws
- Failed to carry a team in transition in 2022 — injuries played a role, but the loss of several linemen, coach Liam Coen and WR Wan’Dale Robinson to the NFL were felt
Fantasy football outlook
The raw talent, physical talents, and obvious upside put Levis on track to be among the top four or five quarterbacks drafted. There’s even some chatter about Carolina being intrigued enough to choose him No. 1 overall. This may not be entirely crazy … don’t discount it given head coach Frank Reich’s preference for a large-framed quarterback. The addition of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton gives the Panthers a reasonably safe stopgap to transition into the Levis era.
However, in contrast, suspect decisions on the field, flawed mechanics, and suspect decisions on the field have Levis facing quite the draft range. The premium placed on the quarterback position alone should keep him as a Day 1 selection, though he could slide somewhere into the second round.
Between the relative lack of experience and necessary tweaks, Levis could have a year’s wait before he sees meaningful action in the pros. As a result, his immediate fantasy football value is probably next to zero in single-year leagues, but there’s a chance he could be thrust into a lineup if this pro team flounders with a veteran starter.
Other than Carolina, Levis could be a target for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, and New York Jets.
