Will Levis Selected No. 33 Overall by Tennessee Titans in the 2023 NFL Draft
It took much longer than most expected, but Will Levis has finally made Kentucky football history, becoming the ninth former Wildcat quarterback to be selected in the NFL draft, as the Tennessee Titans have taken the gunslinger with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2023 draft.
He's the first former UK QB to be taken since Andre Woodson in 2008 He's the highest pick in UK's history since QB Tim Couch was taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 1999, though Levis took a tumultuous tumble out of the first round.
Under head coach Mark Stoops, Levis is the 22nd former Wildcat to get drafted.
Levis is the fourth quarterback taken off the board, following Alabama's Bryce Young — No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud — No. 2 to the Houston Texans and Florida's Anthony Richardson — No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts. Mock drafts had projected Levis to be selected anywhere in the top 15, but he instead slid nearly out of the first round, in what was the surprise of the night at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo.
In 24 games under center for UK, Levis totaled a 17-7 record, throwing for 5,233 yards and 43 touchdowns while also rushing for 11 scores. He will now prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Levis transferred to Lexington after the end of the 2020 season following two years at Penn State, where he threw for 644 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in limited action.
He then won a three-man competition for the starting QB job in 2021, beating out Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen, both of whom were not on the roster in 2022. Levis was considered the best fit for the new offense under offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
2021 was a breakout year for the 6-foot-3, 232-pounder. He threw for 2,827 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also rushed for 376 yards and nine touchdowns as Kentucky won 10 games for just the fourth time in program history, capped off by a 20-17 Citrus Bowl win over Iowa.
After announcing he would return to Kentucky for a second season, the NFL hype ensued. Levis was touted as one of the most "pro-ready" QBs in college football and has been featured near the top of mock drafts since the beginning of his senior campaign.
His final year wasn't as productive as his first in blue and white, however. Battling through a turf toe injury, Levis was far from 100 percent healthy for a majority of the season, even missing one game against South Carolina on Oct. 8.
He threw for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while his rushing numbers took a major hit, as he found the end zone with his feet just twice. Kentucky finished the regular season with a disappointing 7-5 record.
Though he spent just two seasons in Lexington, Levis will leave as one of the better quarterbacks in program history, as well as one of the more popular players to dawn blue and white in recent memory. He's sixth on the program’s all-time passing yards list and fifth on the program’s all-time passing touchdown list.
Now, it's off to Nashville as Levis attempts to prove his worth at the next level.
Observations from Kentucky's final open spring practice HERE.
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Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.
