2023 BCS QB Scouting Report
Player: Will Levis
School: Kentucky
Year: Senior
Games Watched: Florida (2021 & 2022), LSU (2021), Georgia (2021 & 2022), Iowa (2021), Mississippi State (2022), Tennessee (2022)
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Accuracy: Would fall out of throws or throw with excess width in his base, leading to scattered throws. Generally accurate at all three levels when his mechanics are right.
Arm Strength: His bread and butter. Has a quick, powerful arm that can shoot the ball across the field. Doesn’t shy away from field-side throws, showing the arm talent to stick throws into NFL-like windows. Smooth, explosive stroke allows him to attack man coverage and the deep portions of the field without a sound base or platform.
Size: Muscular with the size and strength to support his QB-run efforts, standing 6’3” and weighing 232 pounds.
Mobility: Exhibits his toughness when on the run, willing to fight and power through contact. Has the athleticism and running traits to make an impact as a ball carrier.
Decision Making: Will put too much trust in his arm and attempt throws that are well-covered. Played catch-up because of his underdeveloped processing speed, throwing blind to coverage movements or holding onto the ball too long.
Out of Structure Ability: Also where he shines, showing the escapability and feel for when it’s time to make a play beyond the pocket. Has shown the play is far from over when it breaks down.
Pocket Awareness: Has a sense of pressure from all angles, making sudden movements to create space, but wasn’t consistent in doing so. Excessive movements compromised his depth and throw-readiness.
Touch/Placement: Can drop vertical throws in the bucket with the right arc and pace, even when the space to step into them is limited. Still learning when to exchange some heat for loft/touch on throws at the intermediate/deep-intermediate areas.
Upper/Lower Mechanics: Footwork is too often a mess, electing to throw before his feet were set at a frustrating rate. Drops can become unrefined and fail to establish a proper base/hallway. Clean, compact motion that is arguably the quickest in the class. High-level ability to find different arm angles.
Progressions: Was late or absent on some of this throws because he struggled to recognize how coverage was shifting before and after the snap. Can work through half-field reads relatively quickly, but doesn’t have reliable full-field vision to prevent being locked on to his targets.
Accuracy (15): 9.75
Arm Strength (10): 10
Size (5): 4.5
Mobility (10): 9
Decision Making (10): 5.5
Out of Structure Ability (10): 9.75
Pocket Awareness (10): 6.5
Touch/Placement (10): 6.5
Upper/Lower Mechanics (10): 5.5
Progressions (10): 6
Grade: 73/100 – Day 2
Summary: The level of play in 2022 regressed following a remarkable 2021 campaign as a first-year starter in the SEC, producing more Turnover-Worthy Plays and taking more sacks while playing through a turf toe injury. It is worth noting that the 2021 campaign also featured better personnel at his disposal with continuity at offensive coordinator, proving he can put quality quarterback play together when there are pieces around him. His failing to unseat Sean Clifford at Penn State before ultimately transferring to Kentucky will be a talking point this off-season, but that is not a 1:1, talent-only comparison. Levis is similar to Anthony Richardson in that you are betting on the athletic and physical upside which is why he will ultimately be a first-round pick where the expectation is to start later than sooner.
Report Author: T.J. Randall
Twitter: @TJ_Randall12
