The push-back on the growing hype for Kentucky football quarterback Will Levis has been strong since his two red-zone fumbles in the fourth quarter of a 22-19 loss at Ole Miss.
That criticism is not shared in the Kentucky locker room though.
“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” UK Coach Mark Stoops said Monday. “I just love his competitive nature, I love his ability. I love the way he’s playing.”
Some of the criticism of Levis was to be expected.
Levis first began to rocket up NFL mock drafts in the summer before he had proven capable of consistently translating his immense physical gifts into in-game production. A strong opening month of the season increased the hype even more, with the two most prominent NFL Draft analysts, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, both ranking Levis as a top-three quarterback in the class last week.
With McShay on the ESPN broadcast of Kentucky-Ole Miss, Levis’s draft stock was a frequent topic of conversation during the game.
So, when Kentucky’s star quarterback failed to convert two late chances for a go-ahead touchdown, it was predictable that some pundits would push back on the narrative that Levis was a surefire future NFL star.
Kentucky recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow responded to that criticism Sunday, tweeting “All you dudes taking shots at (Levis) don’t have a clue what heck y’all talking (about).”
“Will is a great leader and puts his body on the line every game,” Marrow tweeted. “We wouldn’t trade him for any Qb in country. The hype is real.”
Levis completed 18 of 24 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns in the loss at Ole Miss. He played the entire game despite dislocating a finger on his non-throwing hand in the second quarter.
The senior was not perfect though. After leading two late drives into the red zone, Levis fumbled twice. The first fumble came on a third-down play where he was spun in the air while pushing for an extra yard. The second came one play after he appeared to throw a go-ahead touchdown that was negated by a penalty resulting from Levis snapping the ball before a wide receiver had gotten to a set position. Levis lost the second fumble as he was hit from behind by an Ole Miss pass rusher.
“Sometimes those things happen in football,” Stoops said Monday. “I think you know that and understand that and see that. Then there’s other times when there’s reckless with the ball. I don’t think he was reckless with the ball at all.”
Kentucky now ranks 127th of 131 teams in the country in sacks allowed (19) through five games. Stoops said the offensive line play actually improved against an Ole Miss team that was bringing consistent pressure. The final strip sack came from a defender who powered past backup right tackle David Wohlabaugh, who was only in the game because of an injury to starter Jeremy Flax earlier on the drive.
“For us in my tenure here, it’s the best drop-back passing we’ve had,” Stoops said. “That doesn’t mean it’s the best in the world. I’m not saying we’re perfect or anything like that, but we’re far better at throwing the football than we’ve ever been. We have a dynamic quarterback.
“As a defensive coach, drop-back pass, you feel like really good teams we’re playing, they’re going to create some problems for you. So, to have three sacks in that game, I’m not going to overreact to that.”
Still, Stoops acknowledged there is a cumulative effect of the number of hits Levis has taken through five games.
Without an experienced backup quarterback on the roster, Kentucky can ill afford to lose Levis for any length of time. The quarterback depth questions make it all the more important he quickly bounces back from the Ole Miss fumbles, too.
“At that moment, it was just wanting to calm him down, put an arm around him,” Stoops said. “Tell him I love him and I love the way he plays. Just take a moment to breathe and relax because obviously emotions get high. He did some amazing things to put us in position there.”
Next game
South Carolina at No. 13 Kentucky
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Records: South Carolina 3-2 (0-2 SEC), Kentucky 4-1 (1-1)
Series: South Carolina leads 18-14-1
Last meeting: Kentucky won 16-10 on Sept. 25, 2021, in Columbia, S.C.
