Will Levis hype will not slow down after strong spring showing

The 2022 spring game has ended, and Saturday was an interesting afternoon at Kroger Field. Snow was on the turf early, the wind was gusting in the Bluegrass, and Kentucky was not having its usual spring exhibition.

Due to a multitude of factors, Kentucky did not have the depth to field a fair split-squad scrimmage. Instead, Mark Stoops decided to just hold a traditional 11-on-11 scrimmage as fans got a chance to take their first look at the 2022 Kentucky football team.

Not surprisingly, the offense and its star quarterback were the ones who shined. Live from the Kroger Field press box, KSR has your instant takeaways as Kentucky held its first spring game since 2019.

Will Levis looked the part

In his first season at Kentucky, Will Levis delivered for the Wildcats. The Penn State transfer averaged eight yards per attempt on 27.2 throws per game to go along with 376 rushing yards and 33 total touchdowns. In the last month of the season. Levis found a groove and has to chance to turn into a top-flight college quarterback in 2022.

After many positive reviews throughout spring practice, the redshirt senior looked the part on Saturday.

In two possessions against the Kentucky starters on defense, Levis led his offense on two touchdown drives while completing 7 of 8 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. The quarterback was on time and accurate operating the offense with efficiency. Meanwhile, Levis did a great job managing the pocket flashing improved footwork that allowed the Wildcats to put drives together.

The Kentucky football team has some questions to answer in the offseason, but it’s clear that the program has a guy that can turn into a game-changer behind center.

Brad White gets creative

If you just dive into the box score, it could be easy to be critical of the defense. However, defensive coordinator Brad White deserves some benefit of the doubt. Kentucky has the deck stacked against them on defense currently.

Expected starters Octavious Oxendine and Jordan Wright have not been available for full contact most of the spring, and the unit is still looking for transfer help at cornerback. Currently, J.J. Weaver is the only scholarship outside linebacker available. Due to this, White and the defensive staff have tinkered with the personnel available.

To open the game, Trevin Wallace got the start at Will linebacker as Kentucky elected to stay in their 3-4 base. Only this time, super senior DeAndre Square got some reps at outside linebacker playing Sam off the ball and lining up into the field. Not surprisingly, the group had a hard time slowing down the UK passing attack.

The defense is very much an unfinished product at the moment.

Jordan Lovett flashes

Both Octavious Oxendine and La’Vell Wright were a pair of publicized recruiting wins for Kentucky out of Radcliff (Ky.) North Hardin. However, Jordan Lovett is a player that should not be slept on. The redshirt freshman looks like a secondary piece that can help Kentucky in 2022.

A highly productive player who recorded 18 interceptions over his last two seasons in high school, Lovett was a sudden and active safety on the field on Saturday. The 6-foot-2 defensive back finished the game with a team-high nine tackles to go along with some havoc stats — two pass breakups, one forced fumble — as the safety made plays at multiple levels.

Kentucky needs a third safety to emerge, and Lovett can be a player that contributes for safeties coach Frank Buffano.

Dane Key will not need a redshirt

A legacy recruit out of Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass, Dane Key was a very solid recruiting win for the Wildcats on the recruiting trail. The 6-foot-3 rookie has received multiple positive reviews throughout the spring as the true freshman is playing X receiver in his first semester on campus.

The newcomer looked like a contributor on Saturday.

The four-star recruit got some snaps with the ones with Will Levis in the lineup and finished the game with two receptions for 43 yards on four targets with a 22-yard touchdown grab on the second possession of the game for the ones. Key was often targeted on in-breakers over the middle as the wideout is a big target and seems to do a good job of creating clean releases off the line of scrimmage.

What up, @DaneKey12!

🚀 @will_levis
Stream on SECN+: https://t.co/VtAp0TRD6s
📻 Listen: https://t.co/pI5NNfTjSe pic.twitter.com/qnzMQ0nhYR

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 9, 2022

Alabama transfer Javon Baker will be on campus in the summer and should be considered an expected starter, but Key can be a player that can give Kentucky some tremendous positional depth at wideout.

JuTahn McClain will have a major role in the offense

Not surprisingly, Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a quiet day. After receiving four touches on the first possession, the star tailback was shelved after getting just one series. JuTahn McClain was then the guy for the ones on offense.

His usage in the spring game should tell us plenty.

The junior did your typical things at running back but was also split out wide by offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. Kentucky utilized McClain in motion and even called a wide receiver screen for the multi-dimensional skill talent player in the red zone. McClain is a high ceiling talent who can give Kentucky a schematic advantage due to his positional versatility.

Expect McClain to have a heavy role in the offense this season.