Kentucky quarterback Will Levis has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and can skip the Wildcats’ upcoming Music Metropolis Bowl look in opposition to Iowa, the senior announced on his Twitter account. Levis technically has one season of collegiate eligibility remaining however is taken into account a possible first-round decide within the draft after two years because the Wildcats’ beginning quarterback.
Levis beforehand revealed in a Twitter Areas chat with UK Blue Chips that he supposed to enter the draft, although he was unsure on the time whether or not he would play within the bowl recreation. The Wildcats completed the 2022 common season 7-5 with Levis as their main quarterback. The Penn State switch accomplished 185 of 283 passes for two,406 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season whereas taking part in by accidents.
A former three-star prospect, Levis spent the primary three seasons of his faculty profession taking part in sparingly at Penn State. He redshirted as a real freshman in 2018 and performed primarily as a backup over the next two seasons earlier than transferring to Kentucky after the 2020 season. He instantly earned the beginning job and accomplished 66% of his passes for two,826 yards with 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions whereas main the Wildcats to a 10-3 mark in 2021.
Draft Projections
Levis is ranked because the No. 3 quarterback within the CBS Sports activities 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings behind Alabama’s Bryce Younger and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Younger, Stroud and Levis are all considered top-five total prospects within the rankings, although, so Levis may have an opportunity to be the first-quarterback chosen.
“I do know that I may be, and I will do every part I can to make that occur,” Levis mentioned. “I hope I’m, and I simply wish to exit and show to everybody else that I’m as properly.”
In his newest NFL mock Draft, CBS Sports activities NFL Draft author Chris Trapasso has Levis going No. 6 total to the Carolina Panthers.
“Levis hasn’t constructed on an superior 2021, but he has all of the traits groups need of their franchise quarterbacks right now,” Trapasso wrote. “He can compete with Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield in Yr 1 for the beginning gig.”
What subsequent for Kentucky’s QB room?
Although Levis’ departure was broadly anticipated, a succession plan on the place is not notably clear. When Levis missed time with damage this season, redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron crammed in. The previous three-star prospect from Somerset, Kentucky, accomplished 15 of 27 passes for 178 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in UK’s loss to South Carolina on Oct. 8.
Different quarterbacks on this yr’s roster embody true freshman Destin Wade and Iowa switch Deuce Hogan, a third-year sophomore and former three-star prospect in his first season with this system after two years as a reserve with the Hawkeyes. Kentucky doesn’t have a quarterback dedicated as a part of its 2023 recruiting class.
Head coach Mark Stoops fired offensive coordinator Wealthy Scangarello after only one season, and relying on who he brings in, it may make the Wildcats a vacation spot for switch quarterbacks. Levis confirmed that, with the suitable system in place, UK could be a place the place switch quarterbacks can take their video games to the subsequent stage.