On3 Roundtable: Devin Leary can outperform Will Levis, be ‘Top 4’ quarterback in SEC

With Will Levis off to the NFL, Kentucky needed to find his replacement. Head coach Mark Stoops poked his head into the NCAA transfer portal and found Devin Leary via NC State. Leary is now expected to start for the Wildcats this season and expectations are high.

KSR‘s Drew Franklin recently joined the On3 Roundtable, saying Leary has the capability to be a top-four quarterback in the SEC. There are plenty of playmakers on the roster for Leary but the offensive line will need to come through for everything to come to fruition.

“If he can produce, I think he can be a top four, five QB in the SEC as long as that offensive line protects him,” Franklin said. “Kentucky really added to help him there. He’s got all the playmakers around him. It’s all there for him to do it. He just has to go out there and do it.

Of the 14 players Kentucky added through the portal, five of them were offensive linemen. Something Stoops desperately needed to bring into the program, ranking in the bottom five of sacks allowed in the country.

Another aspect Leary brings to the table is his lack of turnovers. Levis threw double-digit interceptions the past two seasons, with 10 coming during the 2022 season. Leary has never thrown more than five and will improve Kentucky from that aspect.

“With how he protects the ball better than Levis, he has the potential to be better than Levis,” Franklin said.

Devin Leary winning Kentucky locker room early

Being a good teammate off the field is just as important as performing on the field. Franklin says Leary has already done a great job in the locker room, winning everyone over. He has also been in the public representing the football program, throwing strikes at Great American Ballpark.

“He’s already winning the spring,” Franklin said. “He came in injured so we didn’t get to see him much and Kentucky didn’t have a spring game. At least off the field, already a very popular guy in Lexington.

“He threw the first pitch at the Reds game recently. I know none of this translates to football but I can tell he’s a captain of that team and won over the locker room and those players.”

Leary will make his Kentucky debut on Sept. 2 when the Wildcats play host to Ball State. Those in Lexington will be hoping he can live up to the level Franklin believes is possible.