Tag: Will Levis

LOOK: Sean Clifford hams it up with Will Levis at Manning Passing Academy

Sean Clifford and Will Levis seemed to enjoy their reunion at the Manning Passing Academy.

If you thought there was any tension or resentment between Penn State quarterback [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] and former Nittany Lions quarterback [autotag]Will Levis[/autotag], think again. The two former teammates seemed to enjoy getting back together again while helping out at the Manning Passing Academy this week posing for a couple of photos.

Levis shared the photos of the two of them on his Twitter account with the caption “Reunited, and it feels so good.”

Levis transferred from Penn State to Kentucky last offseason and took full advantage of the opportunity to be a full-time starter for the Wildcats. In one season, Levis helped electrify the Kentucky offense and one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL draft. Safe to say, the grass was certainly bluer in Kentucky for Levis compared to the likely backup role Levis would have been saddled with behind Clifford in Happy Valley.

Clifford announced he is returning for a sixth season of eligibility this fall, giving him one more chance to lead Penn State in a hunt for a Big Ten championship. Meanwhile, Levis will hope to duplicate the success of his first season as a featured quarterback as he tries to get Kentucky to move up in the SEC East picture behind reigning national champion Georgia.

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Spencer Petras competes among top college quarterbacks at Manning Passing Academy

Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras spent the weekend competing among the top collegiate quarterbacks at the Manning Passing Academy.

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras spent the weekend traveling down to Thibodaux, La., to take part in the Manning Passing Academy. He was part of the Manning Passing Challenge this year.

Petras’ trainer Tony Racioppi was in attendance and gave Hawkeyes fans a glimpse into the work that the quarterback was putting in alongside Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. This camp, along with the work Racioppi and Petras have done this offseason, can only improve the footwork, accuracy, and quick decision-making.

The Hawkeyes quarterback took on some of the spotlight names across the country in the competition. Some of the other individuals there are not only nationally recognized names, but included the 2021 Heisman winner, Heisman contenders and perhaps the top several quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL draft.

Petras spent Thursday through Sunday taking part in the challenge competing and testing his skills. Some of the competitors included fellow Big Ten quarterbacks CJ Stroud of Ohio State, Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell, and Penn State’s Sean Clifford.

Some of the other big names in attendance included last year’s Heisman winner and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Kentucky’s Will Levis, who is skyrocketing up 2023 NFL draft boards, South Carolina’s new arrival Spencer Rattler, former USC Trojan turned Pitt Panther Kedon Slovis, Tennessee’s speed offense specialist Hendon Hooker, and defending national champion, Stetson Bennett from Georgia.

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Seahawks pick Kentucky QB prospect in this 2023 NFL mock draft

In a new mock from James Fragoza at Pro Football Network, Seattle selects Kentucky QB Will Levis at No. 9 overall.

The Seahawks appear to be content to enter the 2022 season with either Drew Lock or Geno Smith at quarterback. There’s still an outside chance they could acquire Baker Mayfield but every day that passes makes that less likely. Odds are, Smith or Lock will be the guy under center this year. Unless one of them suddenly becomes a star, there’s a good chance Seattle will be in line for another top-10 pick in next year’s draft.

While it’s too far in the future to predict with any accuracy which direction they might go in, the best idea for now is to use their first pick on a potential new franchise quarterback. In a new mock from James Fragoza at Pro Football Network, Seattle selects Kentucky QB Will Levis at No. 9 overall.

“Will Levis exploded on the college football scene last year. In his inaugural season at Kentucky after spending time at Penn State, there were the usual ebbs and flows of a first-year starter. But Levis displayed the arm talent necessary to be one of the first QBs off the board in a pro-style offense headed by now-Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen. His pocket presence and overall technique should improve this season, and it will have to for Levis to be worthy of a first-round selection.”

Levis (6-foot-3, 222 pounds) is coming off a strong 2021 season. He posted a 66% completion rate, eight yards per attempt and 24 touchdowns to go with 13 interceptions. Here’s a look at his highlight reel from last year.

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Colts select QB Will Levis in Draft Wire’s 2023 mock draft

Colts grab a QB in Draft Wire’s latest 2023 mock.

In Draft Wire’s latest 2023 NFL mock draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

Holding the No. 20 overall pick in this mock draft, the Colts go after a potential franchise quarterback. Even with Matt Ryan at the helm for at least two seasons—and potentially more—the Colts will be looking for their future quarterback.

In this scenario, the Colts stay put and grab a passer with some potential.

The Colts spent the 2022 draft building around Matt Ryan, but next year, they should think about drafting his eventual successor. Levis still needs to show improved development this season, but the flashes he’s displayed up to this point carry potential first-round promise.

At 6-foot-3 and roughly 222 pounds, Levis became the starter during the 2021 season for the Wildcats. He completed 66% of his passes for 2,826 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

He added some work on the ground as well, taking 107 carries for 376 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

We’re still a long way away from the 2023 draft but taking a quarterback is certainly among the possibilities for the Colts.

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Giants select QB Will Levis in 2023 mock draft from PFN

In the latest 2023 mock draft from Pro Football Network, the New York Giants select a familiar name in Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

The 2023 NFL draft is still roughly a year away and the college football season has not even been played yet, but that hasn’t stopped analysts from conducting mock drafts.

It’s almost a foolish exercise at this point but it persists nonetheless. The latest to release a 2023 mock draft was Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network and like a slew of others before him, he has the New York Giants selecting Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

Things are looking up for the Giants with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll. But there are a few loose ends from the previous regime that may eventually need tying up. Although he’s back and healthy, Saquon Barkley’s long-term status with New York is unclear. And while he has a chance to revitalize his career under new management, Daniel Jones’ leash will be shorter this year. If the Giants are picking at No. 7, odds are Jones didn’t impress. And then it will be time for the Giants to invest in a new QB.

Like Richardson, Will Levis is a talented but flawed passer. He comes with a steely 6’3″, 230-pound frame, exceptional athleticism and competitive toughness, and a very live arm with wicked velocity. But at the same time, his decision-making and pocket presence can be inconsistent, and his field vision is very much a work in progress. Nevertheless, the Giants’ staff has previous experience with a talented yet flawed prospect in Josh Allen. With Levis, they may try to get lightning to strike twice.

What more can we even say about Levis at this point? He’s been the only player mocked to the Giants this offseason and that admittedly becomes quite boring. And similar to other mock drafts, PFN considers him the fourth-best quarterback prospect, meaning the Giants were left picking from the scraps.

In Round 2, the Giants address their cornerback problem by selecting Garrett Williams out of Syracuse.

39) New York Giants

Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse

Williams is certainly an ascending player and unlikely to be available in Round 2 is his current trajectory holds.

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Top 70 players’ odds for the 2022 Heisman Trophy per Tipico Sportsbook

Where does your school’s star stand in terms of Heisman Trophy odds per Tipico Sportsbook? Take a look at the top 70 players here.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young won the 2021 Heisman Trophy after passing for 4,322 yards and 43 touchdowns against just four interceptions in the regular season and the SEC championship game win over Georgia combined.

It was Young’s close to the regular season and that aforementioned SEC championship game win over the Bulldogs that helped him cinch college football’s highest honor.

In a 42-35 win over Arkansas on Nov. 20, 2021, Young completed 31-of-40 passes for 559 yards and five touchdowns. Then, he directed a late comeback and subsequent four-overtime victory at Auburn where he finished with 317 passing yards and a pair of passing touchdowns against the Tigers.

Again, it was the 6-foot, 194 pound signal-caller’s performance in the Crimson Tide’s 41-24 SEC championship game triumph over Georgia that clinched it. Young completed 26-of-44 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns and ran in another score to send Alabama to yet another College Football Playoff.

As a result, Alabama now has back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners. Young joined 2020 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. The Crimson Tide’s all-time list of Heisman Trophy winners also expanded to four following Young’s win.

All of those Crimson Tide Heisman Trophy winners have come under Alabama head football coach Nick Saban. The others were Alabama running backs Mark Ingram in 2009 and Derrick Henry in 2015.

Only one player, Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, has ever won the award in back-to-back seasons. That will be the task for Alabama’s Young. As the odds from Tipico Sportsbook indicate, he’s one of the big favorites to do just that.

What does the full top 70 players’ odds to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy look like? Let’s examine the landscape as college football enters the summer below.

Where each SEC quarterback situation ranks in ESPN’s QB tiers

ESPN places every CFB QB into a tier, so where do the ones from the SEC land?

In recent years, the SEC has become one of the strongest quarterback conferences in the nation. Last season’s Heisman winner, [autotag]Bryce Young[/autotag], was a quarterback in the SEC and will look to repeat that feat in 2022.

All 14 teams have unique quarterback situations. Whether it be a solidified starter like Young with the Crimson Tide, or maybe an all-out battle in Missouri to see who will be their lead passer.

ESPN took that into account and many other factors when putting together a tier-ranking system for every Division I quarterback in the nation.

While the entire list offers explanations and details for nearly every program and their quarterback’s, let’s take a look at how the SEC currently stands.

Where did Dillon Gabriel land in ESPN’s tier rankings?

ESPN paired Dillon Gabriel with former Sooner Spencer Rattler in their FBS quarterback tiers rankings.

As the days’ inch closer to the start of college football, one thing remains the same: quarterback play matters. In today’s world of football on any level having the right signal caller is crucial.

Oklahoma over its history has had quite a few quarterback that have been simply extraordinary.

Last year’s was supposed to bear the ascension of another OU QB ascending to college football greatness, but it never quite manifested. Things have dramatically changed in Oklahoma’s quarterback room since this time last year and now as they near closer and closer to the start of a new season most quarterback situations are ironed out. Including Oklahoma’s.

David Hale of ESPN took the liberty of ranking each NCAA Division 1 program’s quarterbacks into tiers instead of an individual ranking. With this, it helps loop similar talents together while accounting for nuance with things such as their team situations around them, expectations, and whatever else.

Dillon Gabriel falls into tier 4. Tier 4 was named: Definitely. Probably. Maybe. Alongside Gabriel were UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Kentucky QB Will Levis, and former Sooner turned South Carolina Gamecock, Spencer Rattler.

ESPN had this to say about their rationale for this group:

The previous tier was named after Larry David’s famous catchphrase from “Curb Your Enthusiasm”; this one is more reflective of the popular GIF from that show, in which David is visibly debating the pros and cons of a decision. Are these guys underrated? Overrated? Future NFL stars? Future XFL stars? Honestly, we’re still trying to decide. – Hale, ESPN

It seems the biggest theme of this group is that these guys are considered talented wild cards due to things like turnovers and possible soft scheduling. In a nutshell, no one really knows what to make of them yet but there’s talent in all of them. This year could really be the separation season to really and truly get an accurate read on who these guys are.

Rattler was benched at Oklahoma, but there’s a reason he was projected as the best QB in college football before last season began, and a fresh start could rejuvenate his career. … Levis’ overall numbers were strong (24 TD passes, 13 interceptions, 7.1 yards/dropback), but against teams that finished the year in the FPI top 40, he fared far worse (7 TDs, 6 INTs, 5.4 yards/dropback). … Thompson-Robinson finally seemed to blossom into a borderline star last season (Total QBR of 79.0, 30 touchdowns), but he played just two games against FPI top-40 teams, so it’s fair to wonder whether the numbers were more indicative of real progress or a soft schedule. … With Jeff Lebby as his OC in 2019, Gabriel racked up 33 touchdowns and more than 3,700 yards as a freshman. He’s reuniting with Lebby at Oklahoma this year. – Hale, ESPN

Gabriel still has something to prove, especially with the significant bump in competition, but the Sooners quarterback has produced in college and has done it with the guy he gets to work with again, Jeff Lebby.

It’ll be interesting to see how he performs  compared to the other guys he was mentioned alongside as the season goes on. Gabriel will have more weapons and possibly a better offensive line than he ever had with UCF, which should lend itself to positive results.

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2023 NFL draft: Potential Giants target ranked No. 22 by Mel Kiper

Kentucky QB Will Levis, a popular early 2023 mock to the New York Giants, is the fifth-ranked quarterback on Mel Kiper’s big board.

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The 2023 NFL draft is a long way off and a near-endless number of things will change between now and next April. However, that has not stopped draft experts and NFL analysts from conducting several “way too early” mocks.

In most early cases, the projections have remained consistent for the New York Giants. They are routinely pegged to select within the top-10 yet again. And most early mocks have them going with a quarterback.

In fact, in mocks from Touchdown Wire, Draft Wire and Todd McShay, the Giants land on the same exact player: Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his 2023 top 25 big board and on it, Levis checked in at No. 22 overall.

22. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
HT: 6-3 | WT: 232 | Class: Senior

Levis, who transferred to Kentucky from Penn State, made some “wow” throws last season. He has a powerful arm, though he needs to be more precise. He threw too many picks, trying to force a few too many into tight windows. Levis also can beat defenses with his legs; he had four rushing scores in the win over Louisville. Consistency is an issue, but Levis’ traits are intriguing.

2021 stats: 233-of-353 passing (66%), 2,826 yards, 24 TDs, 13 INTs; 107 carries, 376 yards, 9 TDs

That sounds awfully familiar, does it not?

Levis was the fifth-ranked quarterback on Kiper’s big board behind Alabama’s Bryce Young (No. 2 overall), Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (No. 3 overall), Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke (No. 12 overall) and Florida’s Anthony Richardson (No. 13 overall).

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Giants select QB Will Levis in Touchdown Wire’s ‘way too early’ mock draft

Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire has released his “way too early” 2023 NFL mock draft and has the New York Giants landing QB Will Levis.

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The 2023 NFL draft is a long way off but our friends over at Touchdown Wire never sleep. With a charge led by Mark Schofield, they’ve recently released a “way too early” mock draft.

In it, the New York Giants select seventh overall — indicating another poor season — and find a replacement for quarterback Daniel Jones. And like many of the previous 2023 mocks we’ve seen, that comes by way of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

First things first. With the Giants declining Daniel Jones’ fifth-year option, you would think that the writing is on the wall regarding his tenure with the organization. Certainly if the Giants are picking inside the top ten, then he has not taken the step forward that Giants fans have been waiting for the past few seasons. Plus, with a new head coach and general manager in town — who were not part of the decision to draft Jones in the first place — they might want to add their own choice at quarterback.

Could Levis be that player?

There is a lot of projection involved with making him a first-round pick, let alone someone inside the top ten. Assuming he improves with ball placement in 2022, he could put himself into the first-round mix. But we will need to see that from him this fall.

As we’ve noted, the decision to decline Jones’ fifth-year option was more about business than a statement on his future in East Rutherford. There was no sense hitching that wagon at such a high guaranteed price, but it does leave an obvious door open if the Giants want to move on a year from now.

Unfortunately for general manager Joe Schoen & Co., even in this scenario they end up with only the third-best (based on early projections) quarterback prospect available. Both C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young go over the first three picks.

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