Mark Stoops shares thoughts on Will Levis' record-setting NFL Debut

Will Levis is the talk of the town here in Nashville following his four-touchdown NFL debut on Sunday. In his first career appearance, Levis made history, becoming only the third NFL player with four passing touchdowns in his first career game, and the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and at least 225 yards with more than a 65% completion percentage. He is also the first former Kentucky quarterback to throw four touchdowns in an NFL game since George Blanda in 1968. All while leading the Titans to a much-needed win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Levis’ big debut raised the spirits of the Big Blue Nation following Kentucky’s depressing loss to Tennessee. Today, Mark Stoops told reporters that he and Liam Coen, who coached Levis in his first season at Kentucky, had the game on while reviewing film on Sunday.

“Liam and I were in there, in the office staff room watching. We have a TV behind us so when he was playing and doing well, we did [watch]. We turned it on and whenever they were on offense, we were watching that game. When they were on defense, we were going back [to work].

“We are just very proud of him. Just what a great performance. It was a lot of fun and everybody in the office was rooting for him.”

Download the On3 Sports App for all things KSR, including breaking news alerts, schedules, scores, and access to KSBoard, our message board.

“He looks so good back there”

Levis’ star rising can only help the Kentucky Football program. Going into the 2023 NFL Draft, Levis was projected by many to be a top-ten pick but slid to the start of the second round, with the Titans trading up to No. 33 to take him. Seeing Levis fall that far was rough, but Stoops is confident his former quarterback is in the right place.

“He looks so good back there, looks comfortable and just like we thought. I think he’s in a great place and he’s gonna do very well. We’re very proud of him.”

Stoops said he’s texted back and forth with Levis since the Titans’ win but knows the young quarterback is being inundated with messages.

“No, just text and he hit me back with a text. I know how that goes. You get 2,001 texts when you win; you don’t get very many when you lose.”

Levis expected to start vs. Pittsburgh, per reports

Levis looked the part vs. Atlanta, completing 19-29 passes for 238 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Whether or not his performance is enough for the Titans staff to stick with him once Ryan Tannehill is fully recovered from a high ankle sprain remains to be seen, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported this morning that Levis is expected to start Thursday vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At his press conference a few hours later, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said the staff will see where Tannehill is in his recovery later today but the plan is for Levis to start if Tannehill can’t go.

“We’ll see where Ryan (Tannehill) is – we haven’t done anything with him yet today,” Vrabel said. “So, we’ll see how he is. But I think we’d probably say if Ryan can’t go, we’ll move forward with Will, and then we’ll see where Ryan is. It is a short week, but also, we’ll have to see who is available to us at every position.”

Levis took a moment to celebrate with his family in the stands after the game but told reporters he knows he can’t linger too long on his dream debut.

“This is a dream come true for sure,” Levis said. “But I mean — what time is it right now? Yeah, I’ve got 12 minutes to celebrate before we’re on to Pittsburgh as (Mike) Vrabel says. But I’ve been dreaming of this moment as a kid my entire life, even just to touch the field in an NFL game.”

Got thoughts? Continue the conversation on KSBoard, the KSR Message Board. New members can try 1 month for $1.