Mark Stoops pleased with Will Levis' performance in season-opener

Will Levis threw for 303 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in Kentucky’s 37-13 win over Miami (OH) on Saturday. It was only the fourth 300-yard game of his career at Kentucky and his fifth game with at least three touchdowns, but still, the senior quarterback was not satisfied. After the game, Levis did not go easy on himself while speaking with reporters.

“I’ve never felt so disappointed in a 300-yard, three-touchdown performance in my life. I feel like from a decision-making standpoint it was really good but there were some accuracy issues here and there. Coach brought me over at halftime and kind of just told me to make plays and to trust your weapons and let it go and once he said it to me, it helped me settle down a little bit, but the interception was completely on me. He was wide open, and I just missed him.”

Today, Mark Stoops said he wasn’t surprised by Levis’ self-evaluation.

“He is [his toughest critic],” Stoops said of Levis. “He definitely is. You could tell and we don’t need him to put that pressure on himself. We love and respect his drive and motivation and that’s obvious but there also can be added pressure when the expectations go high on him. We just need him to be him and he’s very driven and playing at a very high level.”

Not helping Levis was a rough debut by the rebuilding Big Blue Wall. Levis was sacked four times for 26 yards Saturday night. After looking at the film, Stoops believes the offensive line’s issues are fixable and Levis’ performance despite them was even more impressive.

“When Will had time, he was very good like he usually is, and really, he made some incredible throws under duress as well,” Stoops said. “There are some throws in there that with people in his face, he made some remarkable plays when you really sit there and watch the film.”

Stoops on Levis’ interception, Cummings’ drop

Levis’ sole interception came on 4th and two near the goal line early in the second quarter when his pass to Keaton Upshaw got picked off by Miami’s Eli Blakey.

“I think on the goal line, the interception, a couple of things went into play,” Stoops said. “A low snap, got out of rhythm a little bit. Felt like the way it was cloudy on a pick, he was wide open so he didn’t rip it because Will knows too, when he rips it, they get dropped so not making an excuse for him. He doesn’t need that.”

Contrast that with Levis’ pass that Izayah Cummings dropped later in the second quarter, which should have been a touchdown. Stoops said that while Levis sometimes puts too much zip on ball, that wasn’t the case there.

“They’ve gotta get caught. Yes on the 10-15 yard throws but by the time you add in his drop and where that ball was, that’s what, 20 yards in the air more? You’ve got to catch that ball. I think I mentioned this after the game, yes, there is touch but then there’s times when we’re like, just be you and rip it. It’s a fine line but dude’s gotta catch it. There’s no excuse for that…That’s a touchdown. He throws for four touchdowns if we get that one.”

Stoops: “[Levis] makes people better daily”

Saturday’s game vs. Florida was already shaping up to be the battle of quarterbacks between Levis and Florida star Anthony Richardson, who had three rushing touchdowns in the Gators’ win over No. 7 Utah Saturday. With Chris Rodriguez, Ramon Jefferson, and potentially JuTahn McClain out, Kentucky needs a monster performance from Levis. Stoops knows his quarterback will rise to the challenge.

“I think we all understand that Will is a very good football player and he’s a very good leader and he makes people better daily,” Stoops said today. “He has a huge impact on our program and the way he leads, the way he pushes the offense. I think you’ve seen that for the past year and one game. He’ll continue to do that.”