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

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Wealthy Scangarello was sitting within the San Francisco 49ers’ staff resort assembly room final season on the eve of their recreation in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.

The LSU-Kentucky recreation was on the big-screen TV within the room, and Scangarello and others from the 49ers’ group, together with normal supervisor John Lynch and assistant GM Adam Peters, had been watching whereas ready for conferences to start out. Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was placing on a present, throwing for 3 touchdowns and operating for 2 extra in a 42-21 win.

Scangarello, then the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach, turned to Peters and mentioned, “Who is that this quarterback? He is fairly good. I would like to ensure he is on my radar going into the offseason.”

Little did Scangarello know the offseason would result in his hiring as Levis’ offensive coordinator at Kentucky, and it did not take Scangarello lengthy to determine what sort of expertise he was inheriting in Levis, who has gone from a backup at Penn State to one of many NFL’s hottest draft commodities seemingly in a flash.

On his Massive Board for the 2023 draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Levis rated because the No. 4 participant general and the No. 2 quarterback behind Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.

One NFL personnel director, who has scouted Levis extensively and seen him stay this season, informed ESPN he sees numerous Josh Allen in Levis by way of arm power, athletic means and bodily measurement.

“He simply must proceed to work on his pocket poise, his timing and his accuracy beneath strain, however he is one of many extra intriguing quarterback prospects on this class,” the personnel director mentioned. “Josh Allen had some inconsistencies with accuracy and timing as properly, however we have seen how that has performed out.

“As [Levis] will get extra snug and higher rhythm on this scheme, I really feel like he might be taking part in even higher soccer on the finish of the season than what he is placing on tape proper now. He has all of the bodily traits and numerous upside.”

Scangarello is the fourth offensive coordinator Levis has performed beneath in as a few years, going again to his redshirt freshman season at Penn State in 2019. The methods have all been a bit of completely different, even the one Levis performed in final season when Liam Coen was the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator. Coen left in February to turn into the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator.

“Will is as gifted as anybody I’ve evaluated the final 5 years. The one two guys I might examine him to, the place you could possibly see it clearly, can be Joe Burrow and Josh Allen,” mentioned Scangarello, who spent the earlier 5 seasons within the NFL and was the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator in 2019.

“I feel he would be the first general choose within the draft.”

LEVIS’ ASCENT TO the highest of NFL draft boards could shock some, however not Levis. Even when he was relegated to being Penn State’s “operating” quarterback and taking part in second fiddle to Sean Clifford, Levis by no means doubted he was going to get his shot — someplace.

“I’ve at all times had confidence in myself. I at all times thought I used to be the perfect quarterback within the nation, and no person else was going to inform me in any other case,” mentioned Levis, who tried simply 102 passes in two seasons at Penn State. “I simply wanted the platform to show it. I wanted the chance to get snug with taking part in the place at this degree, and I really feel like that is one thing I did not have at Penn State.”

Levis has discovered that platform at Kentucky, which has gained 14 of its previous 17 video games with Levis at quarterback and vaulted to No. 7 this week within the AP ballot, the Wildcats’ highest rating since 1977. They journey to No. 14 Ole Miss on Saturday (midday ET, ESPN).

“A man like that makes all people higher. He elevates your program,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops mentioned. “The assumption is there. The boldness is there each time he takes a snap, each time he drops again to throw. I get an opportunity to see him every single day. I stand behind him, and you understand how it may possibly get right here [in Kentucky]. It could possibly be nasty, chilly, wet, windy, no matter, and it would not matter.

“This man simply completely rips the ball. I imply, he throws the s— out of it.”

Which begs the query: How did Levis go from the bench at Penn State to any person who wasn’t closely pursued as a switch to a quarterback NFL scouts are exhibiting up in droves to look at play?

Even in highschool, Levis was missed till Penn State misplaced out on Justin Fields and provided Levis a scholarship. Up till that time, Mid-American Convention colleges had been exhibiting essentially the most curiosity.

“We had been all pissed off and scratching our heads as a result of we thought one factor about him and had been saying, ‘Why would not anybody else see this? What are we lacking?’” mentioned Andy Guyon, who coached Levis at Xavier Excessive in Middletown, Connecticut.

“The spring earlier than his senior 12 months, we had tons of schools on campus checking him out, however he could not get a chunk. Generally, there’s that stigma that gamers from the Northeast get, that we do not play soccer up right here the way in which they do down South or in Texas or in California, and this man cannot be that good.

“Effectively, really, he could be that good.”

Levis attended a camp at Florida State the summer season earlier than his senior 12 months of highschool and commenced to show heads after receiving a scholarship supply from then-FSU coach Jimbo Fisher. Levis attended a camp at Penn State quickly after that, and the Nittany Lions had been on the lookout for a quarterback following Fields’ decommitment.

“He got here in there and was lights out, and it was not arduous to see how gifted he was,” mentioned Outdated Dominion coach Ricky Rahne, who was Penn State’s offensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. “He did not miss a throw and was an unbelievable athlete.”

Rahne walked over to Joe Moorhead, who was then Penn State’s offensive coordinator, and mentioned, “Joe, we’re loopy if we do not supply this child,” to which Moorhead responded, “Yeah, I used to be pondering the identical factor.”

Levis redshirted his first season at Penn State in 2018, and Moorhead left for the Mississippi State head job after the season, with Rahne promoted to offensive coordinator. He mentioned it was by no means a case of the Nittany Lions not believing in Levis, however slightly that they had been successful video games with Clifford and he was extra geared up at the moment to be the starter.

“Everybody at all times asks what occurred and why Penn State did not begin Will over Sean,” Rahne mentioned. “Once we first picked Sean, Will wasn’t prepared to start out but, after which it grew to become arduous to switch a man who had gained 11 video games. Individuals type of overlook that.”

Rahne’s solely query about Levis, whom Kentucky coaches and teammates readily admit performs with a linebacker’s mentality, was whether or not he may harness his intelligence, competitiveness and can to succeed so he may play with the stableness wanted for an elite quarterback.

“That was typically his biggest detriment,” Rahne mentioned. “He wished to be so profitable that he put a lot strain on himself that it made him play a bit of tight typically. At Kentucky, he appears snug in his pores and skin, and so they’ve achieved a very nice job of letting him be himself and play free. I am glad to see it as a result of the expertise was at all times there, and he is an ideal child.”

After Rahne left for the ODU head job, Kirk Ciarrocca got here aboard as Penn State’s offensive coordinator in 2020, and nothing modified for Levis. Most of his taking part in time got here situationally as a runner from the quarterback place.

It appeared clear {that a} switch was going to be his solely probability to turn into a starter, and having taken on an accelerated educational schedule, Levis earned a level in finance from Penn State in three years. He graduated magna cum laude with a 3.97 GPA.

Levis had personally knowledgeable Penn State coach James Franklin that he deliberate to switch, and Levis’ mother and father, Mike and Beth — who had been each athletes in school — met with Franklin to thank him for what he and the Penn State program had achieved for his or her son. However much like the early phases of Levis’ highschool recruitment, colleges weren’t lining up for his companies out of the switch portal. Levis mentioned he heard from Rutgers, UConn, UMass and a number of other different smaller colleges.

“No one had seen me throw it. All they’d seen me do is run,” he defined.

However Kentucky was on the lookout for a quarterback, and Stoops had simply employed Coen as his offensive coordinator. Coen was the assistant quarterbacks coach with the Rams, however he had seen Levis play in highschool when Coen was teaching at UMass after which Maine and was recruiting within the New England space.

Even with that familiarity, Stoops mentioned they needed to dig by Levis’ tape at Penn State to search out performs the place he was making completely different throws.

“We knew we needed to go get him, however due to the way in which he was utilized at Penn State, you actually needed to seek for sure throws,” Stoops recounted. “There was the Nebraska recreation from the 12 months earlier than, throws we watched and noticed and confirmed what we thought. It additionally helped that Liam knew him from highschool.”

Levis did not graduate from Penn State till Might 2021, so he did not benefit from going by spring apply his first 12 months at Kentucky.

“Will guess on himself. He took of venture and took an opportunity, and it is labored out extraordinarily properly,” Mike Levis mentioned. “He needed to stroll into that locker room and achieve the respect and belief of his teammates and training employees in a comparatively quick time.”

Levis made a right away impression. He was named one in every of eight staff captains and helped lead Kentucky to 10 wins for less than the fourth time at school historical past. Prospering in Coen’s pro-style system, Levis gave the Wildcats a dimension at quarterback they hadn’t beforehand had beneath Stoops and completed with 3,202 yards in whole offense with 24 passing touchdowns and 9 speeding touchdowns. He additionally threw 13 interceptions.

“Lots of occasions with the interceptions, it was making an attempt to do an excessive amount of, making an attempt to suit it right into a window I did not must try to match it in,” mentioned Levis, who has thrown 10 landing passes with 4 interceptions by 4 video games this season.

Levis has additionally taken a ton of hits and has been sacked 16 occasions. He has two speeding touchdowns, however has been restricted to minus-37 speeding yards. That is after ending with 376 speeding yards a 12 months in the past.

“They’ve had hassle defending him and have not been in a position to run the ball, and that is harm him,” one NFL scout informed ESPN. “However he is nonetheless discovered methods to unfold the ball round. Take a look at the explosive performs he is made.”

Levis is tied for second nationally with seven passes of 40 or extra yards, and freshman receivers Dane Key and Barion Brown are beginning to come on, together with Virginia Tech switch Tayvion Robinson.

Additionally, senior operating again Chris Rodriguez Jr. is about to return in opposition to Ole Miss after lacking the primary 4 video games this season. He has rushed for two,740 yards and 26 touchdowns in his profession and will assist steadiness out the Wildcats’ offense.

One of many changes Scangarello made with Levis this offseason was altering his footwork within the shotgun to obtain the snap together with his left foot ahead as a substitute of his proper foot ahead. Burrow made the same adjustment when he was at LSU, Scangarello mentioned, to not point out Matt Ryan when he was with the Atlanta Falcons.

Earlier than Scangarello took the Kentucky job this offseason, he did a video name with Levis to speak to him about these plans and ensure he was onboard.

“It is what I do know and what I educate, and Will is so fast to select up on each adjustment we make. He is so exact in all the pieces he does,” Scangarello mentioned. “He does issues that I have never seen many guys do. He has the perfect of Jimmy Garoppolo’s means from 15 yards in, which Jimmy is among the greatest on the planet with the quick, correct, quick-twitch throws. Will can do all that, however he can even throw the ball 65 yards on a dime.”

A number of scouts informed ESPN they nonetheless need to see Levis be extra in step with the “contact and finesse throws” and never be so assured in his arm power that he is making an attempt to drive throws when he may verify down a go to a operating again. Scangarello has additionally reminded Levis repeatedly to not take pointless hits.

“He is gotten higher at among the layups and can hold getting higher,” Stoops mentioned. “The dude is simply so amped in all the pieces he does, in school, on the soccer area, in conferences. However as he performs and will get extra reps, you simply see that rather more poise.”

TIM COUCH, KENTUCKY’S record-setting quarterback from 1996 to 1998 and the No. 1 general choose within the 1999 NFL draft, sees any person who’s dedicated to his staff and to getting higher each time he steps onto the sphere. Sofa spent a while with Levis this summer season. They performed golf collectively and nonetheless speak periodically.

“He is like an old-school participant on the market,” Sofa mentioned. “We have struggled to guard him at occasions this 12 months and I’ve seen him take some huge hits, however he pops proper again up, stands in there and slings it. He is received a Brett Favre-type of really feel to him, a gunslinger who’s not afraid to throw his physique round and sacrifice for the staff. He is enjoyable to look at.”

In relation to arm power, mixed with the flexibility to get the ball out rapidly and achieve this with out a lot room to throw, Sofa thinks Levis is in a category by himself.

“I watched him up shut this summer season, and also you simply do not see that type of accuracy and velocity,” mentioned Sofa, who set 14 SEC data and 26 faculty data. “If there is a stronger arm in school soccer, I need to see it. He’ll blow the scouts away. He is athletic, powerful, an ideal chief and has all of the intangibles you search for in a quarterback.”

Kentucky’s hardest checks of the season stay. After the go to to Ole Miss this weekend, there are dates with top-10 groups Tennessee on the highway Oct. 29 and defending nationwide champion Georgia at dwelling Nov. 19.

These are huge phases for the Wildcats and large phases for Levis, whose steely focus has remained firmly on what’s proper in entrance of him and never what lies forward.

“I am not going to cheat my teammates or myself,” Levis mentioned. “This season is what issues and serving to carry Kentucky to new heights, a staff that followers will bear in mind perpetually.”

On the earth of title, picture and likeness, Levis has cashed in handsomely. He has offers with steakhouses, car dealerships, golf programs and has even been paired with a horse (Conflict of Will) to advertise Claiborne Farm’s breeding operation. He is additionally helped with reduction efforts in jap Kentucky after flooding ravaged that space this summer season and took part in a telethon final 12 months to assist elevate cash for these impacted by tornadoes that hit elements of western Kentucky.

“I’ve by no means been round any person so pushed to do all the pieces the best means,” mentioned Guyon, Levis’ highschool coach. “He is a kind of individuals in life who succeeds as a result of he is aware of what he must do, how he must do it and when he must do it.”

And but, Levis stays fueled by those that doubt him. This summer season, he was speaking to a Pac-12 assistant coach who informed him there was early curiosity in bringing him in as a switch from Penn State.

“They had been on the lookout for a quarterback,” Levis mentioned. “I will not say which faculty it was, however they had been like, ‘Nah, that child cannot play.’ My response was, ‘Man, that is superior,’ as a result of I could not wait to get out and show them and all people else improper.”

The focus will solely get brighter for Levis, particularly because the video games get greater. And because the NFL draft approaches, there’ll inevitably be one other spherical of doubters.

He would not have it another means.

Kentucky competing for an SEC soccer title? An under-recruited former Penn State backup going No. 1 within the draft?

It sounds arduous to imagine, however for the child who did an eighth-grade solo of Corridor & Oates’ ‘You Make My Goals Come True,’ all of it is sensible.

Levis has by no means stopped chasing his desires, even once they may need appeared extra like fantasy.

That’s, to all people however Levis.