Footwork, timing, impulse control: How Will Levis can go to another level in 2022
A year ago, Will Levis was studying his Kentucky playbook from the campus of Penn State University, where he was finishing a master’s degree.
While plenty of changes have occurred for the UK offense in the time since last spring camp — including the offensive coordinator distributing the playbook — the fact that Levis is in Lexington for this go-around is beneficial for all parties involved. The guy who arrived last May and immediately had teammates clamoring for him to get No. 1 reps will go into the fall as UK’s undisputed starter and a fuller offseason of work alongside the players blocking for and catching balls from him.
“(It’s) really going to help me understand what we have and where our offense makeup’s gonna be like, what we’re good at and what we might not be good at,” Levis said Tuesday following the Wildcats’ first spring practice. “Just what our bread-and-butter stuff’s gonna be, so that when we get into camp, we already have this foundation and I already have this comfort with the offense before we jump into the season.”
Levis buttered a lot of bread last fall with a knife named Wan’Dale Robinson. The two connected a record-setting 104 times for 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns; nearly half of Levis’ 233 completions went to the junior receiver and soon-to-be NFL Draft selection.
All told, four of UK’s top five pass-catchers are no longer in the program: Robinson entered the draft, Josh Ali (41 receptions) and Justin Rigg (20) exhausted their eligibility, and Isaiah Epps transferred to Tulsa for his “super senior” season. Among the highest priorities this offseason, obviously, is building rapport with a group of receivers that’s high on talent and light on college football experience. Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson (113 receptions, 1,555 yards, nine TDs) has the strongest resume in the room and projects as a starter, but from there the pecking order is tough to suss out.
Clevan Thomas, who was having a strong spring before tearing his ACL last April, is excited to be in the mix again. He’s one of two returning receivers who’s caught a touchdown for Kentucky before (along with DeMarcus Harris). He was envious watching from the sidelines last season.
“I’ve played with a plethora of quarterbacks, but Will, he’s so passionate and he’s pumped,” Thomas said. “Seeing that, I’m jealous, I’m like, ‘Man, I want to get in there with ‘em.’ When he hurdles somebody and he goes to the sideline like, ‘Yeah!’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, let’s go, Will!’ It’s exciting. Now that I have the opportunity, it gives me a breath of fresh air. ... When he announced he was coming back, man, it was like a party in my room.”
In addition to getting as many reps as possible with green receivers, Levis most wants to improve his footwork and timing. New offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has coached quarterbacks for more than 20 years, including, most recently, Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers. He’s had Levis make a “switch” with his feet early in camp, and the incumbent quarterback has warmed up to it quickly.
The physicality Levis brings to the position ingratiates him to teammates as much as it does fans, but Scangarello wants him to be more aware of protecting his body in year two and improve his “impulse control.”
“There’s a fine line between being a baller and being reckless,” Scangarello said. “ ... Physicality is one of his blessings but it’s also something that, if he doesn’t manage it, can lead to negatives, too. That’s the fine line. When you’re in a red jersey, you’re not getting hit, you never feel that until game day. Practicing that mindfully now will only help him down the road.”
Wan’Dale Robinson at last week’s NFL Combine endorsed his former quarterback as a combine-worthy player, and if Levis puts together a season similar to — or, UK hopes, better than — last year’s, he’ll probably be on draft boards. A more efficient campaign with fewer interceptions (he tied for the league lead with 13 last season) would boost the Wildcats’ fortunes and his own stock. Thriving in an offense sourced from Kyle Shanahan after doing so in one lifted from Sean McVay would go a long way with NFL types, too.
At this point, it’s less about learning and more about fine-tuning.
“I think you can see that with Will,” head coach Mark Stoops said. “He’s at a point where he’s really comfortable back there. He’s just working on the little things to become a better player each and every day, and we really need all the guys to take that approach.”
