Increased accuracy for Will Levis starts with hitting checkdowns

In his first season as a full-time starter, Will Levis checked many boxes. The former Penn State transfer put himself in a position to be an NFL Draft prospect as a redshirt senior.

However, the Madison (Conn.) Xavier product still has much room for growth. With new position coach and play-caller Rich Scangarello taking over for Liam Coen in Lexington, the veteran quarterback is looking to improve his accuracy in 2022. It all starts with patience.

“Even though a play might be called for this specific concept and this specific shot, this specific route — if it’s not there, if you just don’t feel good about it, maybe not try to force it. Just come down and take the back, take the completions,” Levis told reporters on Saturday.

With Scangarello running the offense, Kentucky is planning on having some wrinkles in the ground game, and we could see a good amount of two-back running game this season. That is something that is not really featured in the SEC. However, the passing game will also have some wrinkles. The Wildcats want to force defenses to cover running backs consistently.

“I think we’ve thrown the ball to the back more in spring ball this year than we had in all of camp last year and the regular season combined,” said Will Levis. “So that’s one that we have hammered down on and having to trust the quarterbacks.”

Last fall, Kentucky’s primary tailbacks — JuTahn McClain, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kavosiey Smoke — recorded 19 receptions on 33 targets with a success rate of just 36.4 percent. Wan’Dale Robinson consumed most of the targets, but the Wildcats were much more likely to throw the ball to a wide receiver or tight end using the tailback mostly on schemed up plays. Rarely did Levis hit the back with a checkdown.

That is planning to change this season as Levis looks to become a more efficient passer.

“Shot called doesn’t mean shot taken,” said Levis. “It’s coming down and taking high percentage throws to the backs where two-yard gains with one missed tackle can easily turn into 10-yard gains.”

“I left a lot of incompletions on the table last year — it was 68 percent completion last year — could have very easily been 73-74.”

Hitting that high completion rate should help raise both the yards per attempt (8.0) and success rate (49.6%) to help Kentucky build an efficient passing attack to team up with a dangerously efficient rushing attack. To do that, the ball must go to the back as Levis looks to take the profits more consistently.

Expect to see a different passing attack on Saturdays this fall in the Bluegrass.