SEC 2023 NFL Draft Preview: Kentucky QB Will Levis

One of the most talked about prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft up to this point has been Kentucky QB Will Levis, along with where he could potentially come off the board this April. Why is that the case, and where could that potential pick be?

SEC 2023 NFL Draft Preview: Kentucky QB Will Levis

Levis, who was a three-star prospect in the 2018 class out of Xavier High School in Connecticut, did not originally begin his collegiate career at Kentucky, but rather at Penn State, where he was a backup for three seasons to starters Trace McSorely and Sean Clifford.

At the conclusion of the 2020 season, Levis would go on to enter the transfer portal after three seasons with the Nittany Lions, and would eventually transfer to Kentucky. Once in Lexington, Levis would become the Wildcats starter from day one, translating to a breakout 2021 season.

That season, Levis would complete 66% of his passes for 2,826 yards with a 24:13 TD:INT ratio across 13 games, while also rushing for 376 yards and nine touchdowns on 107 attempts. Levis would rank No. 6 in the SEC that season in completion percentage, passing yards, and passing touchdowns, but would struggle with interceptions as he led the conference with 13 picks, as well ranking third most nationally.

Returning to Kentucky this past fall, Levis would go on to complete 65.4% of his passes across 11 games, translating to 2,406 yards and a 19:10 TD:INT ratio. Also rushing for two more scores, this would bring an end to Levis’ collegiate career, with the former Penn State transfer holding a career 65.7 CMP% at Kentucky, along with 5,232 passing yards and a 43:23 TD:INT ratio.

Strengths

One of Levis’ strengths as a quarterback entering the NFL is his size, as the Kentucky quarterback is exactly what you’d want in a signal caller at the professional level at 6-foot-3, 232 pounds. With that size, Levis also displays impressive arm strength as a passer, and is tough to bring down both in-and-out of the pocket.

Levis is also a solid runner for the quarterback position, with the greatest example of that having been his 2021 season in which he rushed for 3.5 YPA and nine touchdowns. Similar to Florida QB Anthony Richardson, the physical traits such as arm strength and athleticism you could argue are there for Levis, making it clear why the Kentucky signal caller is an intriguing prospect in this draft.

Question Marks

Similar to Richardson as well, one of the biggest question marks surrounding Levis’ transition to the NFL is his ability to limit turnovers. Levis has thrown a combined 23 interceptions across the last two seasons, ranking top three in the SEC each year, and will be key for the Kentucky signal caller to limit turnovers once playing against NFL defenses.

Potential Draft Range

Due to the run on quarterbacks in the first round, it feels likely that Levis comes off the board at some point in the first 32 picks. As to when that might be, it could be as early as the back-half of the Top 10, or midway through the first round at the latest, with some teams even potentially trading up for the Kentucky signal caller.

Draft Prediction

Levis will be selected within the first 15 overall picks of the 2023 NFL Draft.