Mark Stoops: Kentucky football ‘hit a home run’ in search for Will Levis replacement
Mark Stoops did not have to wait until signing day for his biggest recruiting win of the week.
Former North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary, the top-ranked quarterback in the transfer portal according to multiple national rankings, kicked off Kentucky’s signing period early with a commitment on the eve of signing day, ensuring Stoops and company would land a veteran replacement for possible first-round draft pick Will Levis before spring practice.
“Anybody that was in the quarterback market — and I mean anybody and everybody that was in the quarterback market — was after him,” Stoops said Wednesday. “We really feel like we hit a home run with him.”
It was no secret that Kentucky would be in the market for a transfer quarterback this offseason, but the path connecting Leary and the Wildcats was not simple.
Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was the subject of frequent rumors throughout the season due to his connection to former UK offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, but after Scangarello was fired that option seemed less likely for the Wildcats.
The lack of an offensive coordinator could have complicated Kentucky’s pursuit of transfer quarterbacks, but reports that Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen would return to the same position at UK after the conclusion of the NFL season were apparently enough to convince top targets Kentucky would still run the pro-style offense that helped develop Levis into a possible top-10 pick.
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz and Leary rose to the top of the available quarterbacks on Kentucky’s transfer board, but it was not initially clear which quarterback the staff preferred. Both took visits to Lexington while considering other SEC programs.
Leary has the better college resume as one of five finalists for the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to college football’s best quarterback, but is working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle that ended his 2022 season after just six games. Mertz struggled with consistency at Wisconsin but might be the better NFL prospect of the two if he can turn his impressive arm talent into consistent on-field production.
In the end, the fact that Leary only had one year of eligibility remaining while Mertz had two was actually a plus for Kentucky.
“I feel confident with the quarterbacks we have on campus, but this gives you a one-year transfer, free agent if you will, to come in for a year and really bridge that gap, let our guys continue to grow,” Stoops said. “... With Devin it brings in a proven guy with a lot of snaps under his belt. With the playmakers we have in place, that’s a really big get for us.”
Redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron and freshman Destin Wade are expected to split time at quarterback in the Music City Bowl after Levis opted out of the game to begin preparing for the draft.
Kentucky lost the only game Sheron started this season when Levis was sidelined by turf toe against South Carolina. Wade has yet to appear in a college game.
Counting on either to make the jump to SEC-level starter next year would have been a big risk, especially as the staff had to fend off interest from powerhouse programs looking to lure star freshmen receivers Barion Brown and Dane Key in the the transfer portal.
Stoops resisted the urge to compare Leary and Levis, who also arrived at Kentucky via the portal, but acknowledged Leary has the same leadership ability that helped Levis quickly win over the locker room.
“Devin, he has quite a few more snaps on tape,” Stoops said. “Much different in that aspect. Devin has clearly more experience and more snaps under his belt.”
Having multiple top-level transfers interested in the program was a good problem to have for Stoops and company, but Kentucky’s head coach acknowledged some awkward moments when balancing which quarterback to go all-in on.
After Leary emerged as the top option, he still had another official visit to Auburn to make. Meanwhile Mertz was considering Florida, where he ultimately committed just a few hours after Leary picked Kentucky.
While the wait for a final decision was nerve-wracking, Stoops appreciated how Leary stuck to the plan he laid out for the schools pursuing him.
With the quarterback transfer decision behind them, Leary and Kentucky’s coaches can now turn the focus to preparing for next season. Leary will enroll at UK in January and is expected to participate in at least part of spring practice as he works his way back from the injury.
“I like the way he went through it,” Stoops said. He wanted to visit, wanted to go home, wanted to sit down and look his parents in the eye and have a conversation and then call me. That’s exactly what he did. I always have great appreciation for people as detailed and as thorough and very much process-orientated as he is.
“ He’s already on to football. He’s getting after it. So, he’s the type of guy you’re looking for.”
This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 1:58 PM.