Will Levis on front page of ESPN.com

[JFCats22]

Getting some major love!

He is front and center on ESPN.com right now

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Will Levis' unexpected path from backup QB and unnoticed transfer to big-time NFL prospect

After going from a run-first backup QB at Penn State to leader of No. 7 Kentucky, Will Levis' next giant leap could be as a top pick in the NFL draft.

www.espn.com

 

[UKUGA]

Nice kid.

Hard to believe he’s a potential #1 pick.

As the o-line stabilizes, this team will keep getting better and Levis will shine.

 

[EliteBlue]

Nice kid.

Hard to believe he’s a potential #1 pick.

As the o-line stabilizes, this team will keep getting better and Levis will shine.

Not saying he will be the first QB but He projects better to the NFL than a guy like Bryce Young. Sure, dual threat is all the rage now more than ever but the NFL still prefers it not be a question of “are you a QB who can run a little or a RB who can throw well enough”…Levis is still athletic enough to be considered DT and has more natural arm talent than the other guys in the draft.

All these guys are going to have to learn NFL schemes and how to read a NFL D and adjust to the speed etc all draft picks are gambles…QB is still about the arm first and foremost and my guess is NFL GMs would rather take a gamble on a guy who can move well enough but no doubt has the arm to make any throw on the field w a quick release and hope he adjust to the NFL; than a guy who may break more big runs and has a solid arm but the ball takes a little longer to arrive on those long 10-20 yard outs across to the wide side of the field.

The mega strong arm makes adjusting to NFL D Speed a little easier bc you can be a half second slower on seeing the open man. It’s the differences between a PBU and a completion. More margin for error. And his big frame suggest he may be more durable than a 6’2-210 guy….all things to consider when taking a gamble….

 

[NoDef]

Stoops going with NFL guys as coordinators has also helped his stock. The scouts are watching him perform in a similar type system that he will play in the NFL. That alone may solve our QB recruiting in the future. Hooker at UT puts ups video game numbers, yet isn't mentioned in the same conversation as the top QB prospects in the draft..

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I know I said it before the season started, but I really think he will be #1 (assuming that team can draft a QB). His physical ability is second to none. He has deficiencies in playing the position but he's already shown great strides in correcting those. He's coachable. He plays hard. He is hungry. He's played in two NFL systems already.

If he isn't the top QB taken, I will be surprised

 

[SpamburgerHamburger]

Todd McShay was on Russillo's pod today talking about top QB's on draft boards right now. Had some pretty flattering things to say about Levis as a leader and work ethic, included a quote for Peyton Manning on Levis when he was at the Manning passing camp.

 

[FtWorthCat]

The most impressive statistic in the article to me, is that he graduated from Penn State with a 3.97 in Finance in three years. With the goofy things he does, I had him pegged as kind of a knucklehead. The article set me straight on that.

 

[bthaunert]

The most impressive statistic in the article to me, is that he graduated from Penn State with a 3.97 in Finance in three years. With the goofy things he does, I had him pegged as kind of a knucklehead. The article set me straight on that.

Yep, not many potential #1 draft picks that will have a masters degree when they enter the NFL.

 

[FtWorthCat]

Justin Herbert was Academic AA at Oregon and had near a 4.0 in Biology, correct? I remember reading something like that about him.

 

[Cat06]

Could not happen to a more deserving person.

And I called this to everyone at work after his first game last year. The guy looked like a Terminator QB on the field that early.

 

[Cat06]

Not saying he will be the first QB but He projects better to the NFL than a guy like Bryce Young. Sure, dual threat is all the rage now more than ever but the NFL still prefers it not be a question of “are you a QB who can run a little or a RB who can throw well enough”…Levis is still athletic enough to be considered DT and has more natural arm talent than the other guys in the draft.

All these guys are going to have to learn NFL schemes and how to read a NFL D and adjust to the speed etc all draft picks are gambles…QB is still about the arm first and foremost and my guess is NFL GMs would rather take a gamble on a guy who can move well enough but no doubt has the arm to make any throw on the field w a quick release and hope he adjust to the NFL; than a guy who may break more big runs and has a solid arm but the ball takes a little longer to arrive on those long 10-20 yard outs across to the wide side of the field.

The mega strong arm makes adjusting to NFL D Speed a little easier bc you can be a half second slower on seeing the open man. It’s the differences between a PBU and a completion. More margin for error. And his big frame suggest he may be more durable than a 6’2-210 guy….all things to consider when taking a gamble….

Hopefully he won't have much speed adjusting to do in the NFL. All of the Defensive players he is going to face in the Georgia game are NFL caliber.

 

[travisbickle]

One thing that struck me in the article was the Favre comparison. Gunslinger willing to throw his body around.

Many others with better football knowledge than me have touted his strengths and things he needs to improve on. But another factor in his draft status IMO is the fact that it’s just more fun to watch a guy like that. All other things being equal, I want to see a guy who can throw 60 yards across his body or truck a CB trying to tackle him down field. He’s just a fun player to watch.

 

[Smashcat]

 

[JHB4UK]

I predict a bad NFL team hires Liam Coen this December, then they trade whatever to get the 2023 #1 draft pick, and select Levis

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I predict a bad NFL team hires Liam Coen this December, then they trade whatever to get the 2023 #1 draft pick, and select Levis

Interesting. I definitely think the offers will be there but Jmo but coen is the hc in waiting for the rams. Would be interesting to see if he'd take another job or if his wife will be willing to leave LA

 

[truebluewildcat]

Yeah I think his experience running the Mcvay/Shanahan offense will put him over the edge if it’s even remotely close at the end of the year.

That offense is obviously hot, and the coaching tree via those two is taking over the league.

 

[JHB4UK]

Based on rumors it is possible McVey 'retires' after this season to take it easy as a TV guy for a few yrs, & they promote Coen to HC. Stafford is getting old, I'd still predict they would trade to draft Levis.

 

[Dddjdd]

I don’t think the Rams have any draft capital to trade up to get a QB. If Coen does that it would have to be at a new team who is giving him the head spot.
I though McShay’s talking about QBs on Russillo pod was insightful. He has Levis third behind Stroud and Young but said Young is so small there are some doubts about him. Stroud is bigger than I realized at 6-3 220.

 

[sieken]

Anything can change over the next 8/9 games but if the draft were to happen today, Levis would have some difficult interviews explaining his choices to throw to certain targets at certain down and distance.


Van Hiles, in the last breakdown that has been posted here, he speculates that Will may be watching his receivers instead of reading defensive keys. If that is truly the case, who knows how those interviews go during pre draft. When you see some of the wide open guys he misses, that would be one explanation for it. I prefer to think he has preferred target bias and the pressure is messing with him. Those are way easier to work through than the former.

 

[Bluegrass79]

It's because there's the potential that he might be a "gunslinger".
Those kind of quarterback sell tickets. You may not win all the time but your ass sells tickets.
Touchdowns with some interceptions. Some great throws for touchdowns. some bad interceptions. The ability to scramble and make plays.
I think the more Will plays with these receivers the more that's what he's going to be seen as.
Thus he get drafted high as long as he doesn't fall off a cliff against Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Georgia. If he puts up good numbers against those three then he's going in the top five.

And Kentucky my friend will be sitting pretty. Pretty as a peach. Pretty as she's ever looked in the uniform for the game of football.

Cuz now you will have a top 10 player drafted in football to sack the quarterback and a top 10 player in football to throw the ball. With multiple receiver draft picks already and more coming. Draftable Running backs. 💯💯💯
😂😂😂😂. 👁️👁️

marketability is also good with him. Remember when he did the banana thing and how big that was. He has star potential.

 

[Girthang]

Anything can change over the next 8/9 games but if the draft were to happen today, Levis would have some difficult interviews explaining his choices to throw to certain targets at certain down and distance.


Van Hiles, in the last breakdown that has been posted here, he speculates that Will may be watching his receivers instead of reading defensive keys. If that is truly the case, who knows how those interviews go during pre draft. When you see some of the wide open guys he misses, that would be one explanation for it. I prefer to think he has preferred target bias and the pressure is messing with him. Those are way easier to work through than the former.

That's a problem for a LOT of NFL QBs. It's very frustrating to watch, but I've seen a ton of Bears QBs do this. When a player thinks they can throw any receiver open because they have a great arm, it becomes a problem against faster competition and better coached teams. It may not show up as much in lower levels of ball, but if you don't cure it before the NFL you'll get exposed really quick.

 

[Bluegrass79]

That's a problem for a LOT of NFL QBs. It's very frustrating to watch, but I've seen a ton of Bears QBs do this. When a player thinks they can throw any receiver open because they have a great arm, it becomes a problem against faster competition and better coached teams. It may not show up as much in lower levels of ball, but if you don't cure it before the NFL you'll get exposed really quick.

NFL loves the gunslinger though. Always room for another. As I said in another thread I think that's what Will Levis becomes. He has the traits

 

[Girthang]

NFL loves the gunslinger though. Always room for another. As I said in another thread I think that's what Will Levis becomes. He has the traits

Absolutely. Sells jerseys. That's why the Bears have had so many. Lol

 

[travisbickle]

That's a problem for a LOT of NFL QBs. It's very frustrating to watch, but I've seen a ton of Bears QBs do this. When a player thinks they can throw any receiver open because they have a great arm, it becomes a problem against faster competition and better coached teams. It may not show up as much in lower levels of ball, but if you don't cure it before the NFL you'll get exposed really quick.

Agreed, but if you CAN do those things against NFL defenses, then you will be a fan favorite and a marketing goldmine. Not a lot of those guys out there but if you can get one you’re set. Hoping Levis can be one of those guys.

 

[sieken]

That's a problem for a LOT of NFL QBs. It's very frustrating to watch, but I've seen a ton of Bears QBs do this. When a player thinks they can throw any receiver open because they have a great arm, it becomes a problem against faster competition and better coached teams. It may not show up as much in lower levels of ball, but if you don't cure it before the NFL you'll get exposed really quick.

That's where my thinking is on Levis. I'm not down on him even though some of my posts about him may come off that way. I just haven't seen that level off play from him yet that says he is a lock to be a top 10 pick. They gamble on raw talent with QBs, definitely a plus in his favor, however, everybody is good to great at the next level. He's going to have to start flashing that ability to throw guys open, throw balls to the correct spot (only his guy can catch it), throw the ball before his guy is actually open. Otherwise, I think he'll slip in the draft, I could be wrong about that but it's happened a bunch with quarterbacks. It's also happened the other way, NFL coaches never lack for confidence, thinking they can do what no one before them could.

 

[Girthang]

Agreed, but if you CAN do those things against NFL defenses, then you will be a fan favorite and a marketing goldmine. Not a lot of those guys out there but if you can get one you’re set. Hoping Levis can be one of those guys.

Absolutely. Plus HE'S actually likeable

 

[Girthang]

That's where my thinking is on Levis. I'm not down on him even though some of my posts about him may come off that way. I just haven't seen that level off play from him yet that says he is a lock to be a top 10 pick. They gamble on raw talent with QBs, definitely a plus in his favor, however, everybody is good to great at the next level. He's going to have to start flashing that ability to throw guys open, throw balls to the correct spot (only his guy can catch it), throw the ball before his guy is actually open. Otherwise, I think he'll slip in the draft, I could be wrong about that but it's happened a bunch with quarterbacks. It's also happened the other way, NFL coaches never lack for confidence, thinking they can do what no one before them could.

I get it. I'm very analytical in private about his play. I think he's shown these things more than maybe people realize. He's not going through progressions as well as he needs to, but even with that he's improving. Saw a flash of that vs NIU. A couple of his INTs or near INTs were anticipating the movement of the receiver. I think it's been 50/50 on which one is making the error.

He's not a finished product and he knows it. I love watching him grow into a better QB every week. My opinion is that he might need through the post-season to be the best QB in the draft. A lot depends on progression and how the team does in the reg season.

He has all of the natural ability, plus things you can't teach this late in a career like his leadership ability. If they didn't have him as a first round pick right now, I'd think another year would be ideal for him to polish his game, but he should take the money and run if it's available. Personally, I think continuing to develop in terms of going through his progressions is key to his success at the next level (and here).

You and I are likely on the same page in a lot of ways.

 

[aikenite4uk]

That's a problem for a LOT of NFL QBs. It's very frustrating to watch, but I've seen a ton of Bears QBs do this. When a player thinks they can throw any receiver open because they have a great arm, it becomes a problem against faster competition and better coached teams. It may not show up as much in lower levels of ball, but if you don't cure it before the NFL you'll get exposed really quick.

The good news is that Levis has a lot more upside and his intelligent enough to fix that issue.