Mark Stoops doubles down on Will Levis NFL Draft prediction

Back in May when Will Levis began garnering buzz as a top-ten 2023 NFL Draft pick, Mark Stoops came on KSR and made a bold prediction: Levis will be the first quarterback drafted. Ahead of Alabama‘s Bryce Young, ahead of Ohio State‘s CJ Stroud. A month later, Stoops is doubling down.

“I’m going to go on record and say I think I was the first person to say that I believe I think Will can be the first overall pick — I said first quarterback but if you’re the first quarterback picked, you’re going to [go high],” Stoops told KSR at the Wanda Joyce Robinson Foundation Golf Scramble this morning. “I believe in him, I see his talent every day. I stand behind him sometimes during warm-ups and practice every day and it’s like you’re at Christmas when you’re a kid and you have to pinch yourself sometimes. And I’m sitting there watching him and I’m amazed at the way he throws the ball. The velocity. The confidence that he’s gaining since last season.”

In his first season at Kentucky after transferring from Penn State, Levis threw for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns, while rushing for nine more. He completed 66.0% of his passes to finish with an overall passer rating of 148.3. Those are impressive numbers, but first-quarterback-drafted worthy? When asked why Levis is turning so many heads at the pro level, Stoops compared him to another former Kentucky quarterback: Tim Couch, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft.

“He has all the physical tools,” Stoops said of Levis. “He’s a big, strong guy. The other day, he was out there and Tim happened to be out there, Tim Couch. And we all know how big Tim is. He was the No. 1 overall pick. That’s what they look like. He’s a big, strong quarterback. He’s got all the physical tools. He can run. He can handle a 17-game season, he’s so big and strong. The velocity he throws the ball with. He’s getting more accurate, he’s cleaning up his footwork, he’s doing all the things necessary. But just the talent alone, it jumps out at you, the way he can throw the football.”

“He’s constantly trying to be the best”

All this praise could easily go to a player’s head. So far, Stoops said he’s not worried about that with Levis.

“I really don’t think it’s a problem with a guy like Will. To this point, he has shown no signs of that. He’s very driven. He’s competitive within himself. And he’s constantly trying to be the best.”

The best part about having a guy like Levis as your leader? He drags others with him. That’s just one reason why Stoops is so excited about this season.

“We have great leadership, starting with a guy like Will. Will really always attacks every day like that, like he has something to prove. He’s constantly trying to get better, and that’s a great starting point for us as a program, just to be hungry.”

Seventy-eight days until the season opener vs. Miami (OH).