Are we sleeping on Will Levis?

As draft season unfolds more evaluations and ways to measure the prospects will emerge. Most on this forum see Bryce Young or a QB in 2024 as the best route. I don't necessarily disagree with either approach, however, I believe we maybe discounting Will Levis because he didn't play great this year and his career stats are average at best in CFB today.

I know Levis has been getting hype from Draft Elvis wannabe, but when a guy with 30 years of NFL Scouting and Pro Personnel experience says the kinds of things below, I start to pay attention a little closer... https://www.the33rdteam.com/categor...is-could-be-first-qb-taken-in-2023-nfl-draft/

"I did an impromptu poll with four NFL scouts I trust, and three of them told me he was the best quarterback in the draft. One NFC scout told me, “This [season] is an audition for him to go to a poor NFL team. He proved he can take a beating and keep getting up.” Added another NFC scout: “It is a miracle that he keeps playing every week after all of the hits he takes. He is more banged up than people think — much more.”

When I am evaluating a quarterback like Levis, Ben Roethlisberger often comes to my mind. I remember Big Ben at Miami of Ohio and I watched him overcome so many problems with his own offense. His linemen missed blocks and his receivers struggled to get open. Going through that prepared him to play quarterback in the NFL, and that experience was better training than anything else he did in college.

Levis has all of the tools NFL teams look for. He has the arm, size, toughness, intelligence and enough athletic ability. He runs an NFL offense at Kentucky and can manage a huddle, which many people discount. When studying Levis, there are some ugly games; that has been the history of Kentucky football. As an evaluator, you have to look at what surrounds the quarterback and who they are playing week in and week out."

Levis is big and strong. A sturdy lower body is essential for a quarterback. There are always exceptions, but in the NFL you are going to get hit, you are going to have people roll up on your legs and you are going to take shots.

That is what worries me about Bryce Young, who is listed at 6-feet, 194 pounds. I question if he can take the pounding he will see in the NFL. Playing at Alabama, almost everything goes right in a game for him. He is protected and his skill players are excellent. Levis, on the other hand, has to overcome all of the elements and every play is conflict. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud experiences very little conflict as well.

Accordingly, you must take everything into consideration when evaluating a quarterback. The quarterback position is the most important decision a team will make, especially when it comes to drafting one. Decision-makers in the NFL will also go back to previous years in their evaluations. In 2021, Levis faced LSU and threw for three touchdowns, ran for two more, and only had three total incompletions on the day as Kentucky won, 42-21.

Less than a month later, he led an offense that scored 42 points against Tennessee, leading the way with three touchdown passes and two touchdown runs. Last year, Kentucky won 10 games and went to a New Years Day bowl.

Ten wins at Kentucky? That will be talked about in draft rooms for sure."

This article is not from a scout, but highlights some of the issues Levis had with the new scheme, play calling and injuries... https://twsn.net/2022/12/dont-let-his-season-fool-you-will-levis-is-still-that-guy

"Mark Stoops long employed a power gap blocking scheme which meant big powerful linemen who played in the 320 to 330-pound range. However, Kentucky has switched to an outside zone scheme utilizing leaner, more athletic blockers. This dramatic shift caused some growing pains in 2022, leaving Levis under a lot of pressure which lead to a few injuries along the way as well. That being said, this wasn’t the only issue.

Play calling left much to be desired as well. Under a new coordinator, the Wildcats struggled to score points and the scheme didn’t translate over as well as expected. Levis was also asked to stay in the pocket which eliminated a major part of his game which is scrambling. Levis struggled compared to expectations because he was handcuffed.

What truly sets him apart is his ability as a leader. Players will rally around this guy. He is always looking to make a play when it is needed and his energy is infectious. Levis is not afraid to strap his team on his back if it is needed, so to speak."

To me this looks like a fair/balanced view of Levis, if you're interested, take some time to read it... https://www.profootballnetwork.com/will-levis-qb-kentucky-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2023/

Levis has had comparison mentioned from Stafford, Burrow, Roethlisberger, Allen and more. I looked back at a scouting report on Allen and some of the same issues were mentioned, but they're not necessarily comparable players. I share this one because uncertainty is there for any prospect and it sometimes boils down to the coaching and system they land with after their drafted. Allen landed in the prefect spot for him to develop and he took advantage of it... https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...ys-ultimate-boom-bust-2018-nfl-draft-prospect

Almost every year there is heated debate over who the best QB will be. It's rare to see the Peyton Mannings or Andrew Lucks. Trevor Lawrence looked like a bust until they married him with the right coaching. Now he very well could lead them to the division title in his second year. Whoever we draft we have to pair them with the right coaching team.

If we take a QB at #1 overall, there is a risk with the Top 3 guys. While I'm still leaning #88 or #31, I'll keep an open mind as we transition into draft season.

 

Agree. I like the way guys like Rodgers, Mahomes and others spent some time behind a vet QB. Who would you sign?

 

Bortles vaulted up a week QB class to go in Top 5, he also had comparisons to big Ben, so from that perspective you've got a point. They both also need(ed) improvement in recognition and anticipation.

However, his arm wasn't close to Levis and he ran a more limited offense than I believe Levis had done. Bortles threw a wobbly ball that I hated watching, reminded me of Billy Kilmer, but Billy was better.

It's funny I think Allen has regressed slightly without Daboll this year. He seems to be forcing more passes than he did the last 2 years--my impression. So I absolutely agree we need the right offensive mind/system no matter if we draft Young or Levis. We'll see how that's handled.