Will Levis could use some help from Kentucky's offense

Expectations were very high for redshirt senior quarterback Will Levis. Through three games, Kentucky’s QB1 has reached the high bar set in the preseason.

The first-round prospect ranks inside the top 20 nationally in yards per attempt (9.7), passing yards per game (294.0), and 40-plus yard completions (4). Levis has logged a high passing success rate (54.9%) and has done a better job connecting on big plays with 23 completions of 15-plus yards. There have been a few too many negative plays, but overall the Connecticut native is giving the Cats some top-flight play behind center.

Head coach Mark Stoops has been very impressed with his signal caller.

“Honestly, he made some amazing throws again on Saturday. The talent just jumps out at you,” Stoops told reporters on Monday about Will Levis. “When he gets moved off his spot and still have the awareness and the arm talent and just the way he throws some of them. Just a really, really talented thrower. Made some amazing plays that kind of go unnoticed in a game like that.”

When reviewing the film, two plays jumped out. There are only a couple of quarterbacks in the world who can make these types of throws.

Will Levis is clearly on pace to give Kentucky its best season from a quarterback since 2007. The veteran is posting big numbers, but the overall offensive production could be greater. The surrounding parts around Levis could play a lot better.

“It’s not just him. I’m not bailing him out, but on the interceptions, we need to play better around him,” Stoops said. “Some guys need to step up and play more precisely. Him holding the young wideouts accountable — all the little things. Continue to grow because it only takes one guy. You’ve heard the frustration and everybody talking about a guy here or a guy there. Well, that’s all it takes. You need everybody on the same page. It’s why this is the ultimate team sport. You have to have everybody on the same page or it’s not going to work.

Stoops mentioned a wide receiver running a bad route on the second interception by Levis on Saturday and some poor blocking from multiple positions leading to some inefficiencies in the ground game. The Cats are currently No. 126 overall in yards per rush (2.23) and that is not helping UK complement what has been an efficient and explosive passing game.

Kentucky’s offense has a lot to clean up after a sloppy football game on Saturday. The Big Blue is currently getting its best quarterback play of the Mark Stoops era but needs the 10 players around QB1 to step their games up for this offense to reach its high ceiling in 2021.

The pressure is on offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and the rest of the offensive staff to get better play out of the Kentucky offense. If that develops, the Cats could start cooking with gas as Will Levis has turned into a bonafide playmaker for the program this season.