Titans: Deeper info on Will Levis’ struggles last season at Kentucky
Greg Cosell of NFL Films gives important context to Will Levis’ struggles at Kentucky in 2022.
Entering the 2022 college football season, Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis was widely projected to be the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In April, Levis was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 33rd overall pick in the draft.
So what happened to Levis in 2022 that he dropped all the way to the second round? What caused his struggles at Kentucky last season?
Greg Cosell of NFL Films provided some really interesting insight into Levis' game and senior season when speaking to Brent Dougherty and Ron Slay of 3HL on Nashville's 104.5 The Zone.
There's no debating that last fall was less than ideal for Levis. The former Penn State transfer threw for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 11 games. The Wildcats went 7-6 while losing a game to Vanderbilt and getting steamrolled by the rival Tennessee Volunteers 44-6.
Despite his rocket for an arm and plus athleticism, Levis turned the ball over at an alarming rate in 2022. Kentucky's offense was the worst in the SEC, ranking dead last in yards per game and total points per game.
But according to Cosell, the offensive disconnect in Lexington could have been caused by a number of injuries Levis suffered early in the season.
"Levis got hurt early in the season, and in fact, was told by the doctors that he probably shouldn't even be playing," Cosell said. "Levis said 'no, that ain't happening, I'm playing football,' and [Kentucky] had to change their entire offense. Everything they did through the month of August through the first two, three weeks, they had to scrap a lot of that because he just physically couldn't do it. So he did not look anywhere near as good this year as he did in 2021."
Cosell added that most people who watched Levis at full strength were aware of his high-end potential and the possibility that he could go at the top of the 2023 draft class.
"I remember last summer watching his tape from 2021 and saying if he had a good year, he could be the first pick in the draft," said Cosell. "I was told by this particular coach that when the NFL came in, in the month of August, the scouts came away from watching Levis in the month of August and training camp for Kentucky saying 'this guy's phenomenal.' But then he got hurt. Two injuries, not just one."
One of the benefits to Levis landing in Tennessee is the fact that a veteran starter is already in place with the Titans. Ryan Tannehill has one year remaining on his contract, and in all likelihood, he will be Tennessee's guy under center when the season kicks off this September.
Sitting one year behind Tannehill could allow Levis to get his body fully healthy and get his legs under him in the NFL. Should Levis thrive early on in camp and team practices, it would surprise nobody if Mike Vrabel and Tim Kelly wanted to get a look at him at some point in 2023.
We know the ceiling is there, and going off of what Cosell shared, there may have been some external factors to Levis' struggles at Kentucky in 2022. With a clean bill of health, the sky is the limit and the Titans will be hoping to unlock the top QB prospect Levis was this time last year.
