Mel Kiper Jr. has Will Levis on his early draft big board

The hype continues to roll in for Kentucky quarterback Will Levis this offseason. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. was the latest to join the party.

The ultimate draft guru published his first big board for the 2023 draft class that included his top-25 prospects along with the top 10 players at each position. One player for Kentucky appeared on the list, and we all know who that was.

Will Levis checks in at No. 22 overall and QB5 behind Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Tyler Van Dyke (Miami), and Anthony Richardson (Florida).

“Levis, who transferred to Kentucky from Penn State, made some ‘wow’ throws last season. He has a powerful arm, though he needs to be more precise,” writes Kiper. “He threw too many picks, trying to force a few too many into tight windows.”

Don’t include Mel Kiper Jr. in the group of pundits who sees Levis at the same level as Stroud and Young, but it is important to point out that a consensus is forming. Kentucky’s redshirt senior quarterback is entering a year where he is seen as a bonafide first-round prospect. The Wildcats haven’t had a quarterback taken in the first round since Tim Couch came off the board at No. 1 overall in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Due to having a talent of that caliber at the sport’s most important position, the ceiling has been raised for Mark Stoops and his program in year 10. There is major buzz surrounding Kentucky football, and the return of Will Levis is the ultimate reason why.