Mark Stoops addresses decision to name Will Levis starting quarterback

Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops informed the team this weekend that quarterback Will Levis will be the week one starter. The Penn State graduate transfer beat out returning quarterbacks Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen for the starting job.

Shortly after the decision, Gatewood entered the transfer portal. He will not practice with the team while weighing his future options. After the information was leaked to the media, Stoops held a press conference to address his decision to name a starting quarterback and the impact on the season.

Read what Stoops had to say:

On naming a starting quarterback

“I did meet with the three quarterbacks today and informed them of the decision that we’re making as a staff and where we’re going with the quarterback position. As I told them, and addressed it with you guys many times, I understand the quarterback position is different and there’s so much attention to it. That often puts a lot of pressure on the players, constantly trying to answer to it. But it is what it is. That’s the position, a lot of times it’s the face of the program in front of the team and we understand that.

“I also acknowledged to the players how much I respect and care about each and every one of them and it’s not a personal decision. They’re all three, that were in the competition for the starting quarterback position, great young men, have done everything we’ve asked them to do and we’ve just simply made the best decision for our football team to win games.”

On why now

“Long story short, it was ready, we were ready. It was the right time. And I also wanted to, if I knew this was the decision we were going to make, I wanted to give people like Joey [Gatewood] the opportunity to transfer and go somewhere. If you wait another week, then he’s trapped here. So, I thought it was the right decision to let him know where we stand. And he appreciated that.”

On why Will Levis

“There’s a lot of things. He’s been extremely efficient at running the offense, he’s been, at the gradable reps he’s been 74-percent. His first throw in the stadium was a 65-yard touchdown strike, his first play in the stadium. He has a lot of talent and he’s been doing some things very good. He’s been very efficient; he’s got unbelievable arm strength and he’s a big strong guy and he just won the job.”

On Levis’ leadership

“His presence, it’s felt immediately. That part of it, I’m not going to give you a specific moment or anything like that, but his presence is strong. He’s a very mature young man, very intelligent, he has great presence about him, he has great command. There’s that piece of it, there’s the command in the huddle and then there’s also the talent in the arm.”