SEC Football: 3 quarterbacks with most to prove during 2022 season

1. Kentucky QB Will Levis

Will Levis is returning to Kentucky after a successful year in 2021. But it doesn’t come without high expectations and an uphill battle.

Kentucky has won 4 straight bowl games and with Levis at the helm last year they climbed as high as No. 11 in the rankings.

They beat the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl 20-17 and finished with their second 10 win season under head coach Mark Stoops.

Levis, a transfer from Penn State, threw for 2,827 passing yards and had 24 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 376 yards and had 9 rushing touchdowns.

Now looking toward the 2022 season, with Levis entering his final season, Kentucky will try to keep the ball rolling with another successful year.

And for Levis personally, it’s imperative that he has another good year so he can stay in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.

A lot of early mock drafts have Levis as the third quarterback off the board. On Mel Kiper’s big board, Levis is ranked as the 22nd best player.

At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Levis has the prototypical size and arm strength to play in the NFL. And he also offers the ability to move outside of the pocket.

He’ll need to show it against the tougher teams on Kentucky’s schedule next year. The Wildcats play Ole Miss at the start of October and Georgia late in the season.

Last year, Levis threw for 2 touchdowns and 192 yards in a 30-13 loss against Georgia. He’ll hope to duplicate that performance, this time in a closer game.

As a redshirt senior, he’ll presumably face the same criticism Kenny Pickett did this past draft cycle. If Levis regresses his Senior year, then his draft stock will plummet.

He’ll try to to recreate the magic he had last year and solidify his high draft stock to become a first round pick in 2023.