Peyton Manning: Will Levis ‘might have been genetically engineered to be an NFL QB’
Count one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history among the believers in Kentucky football quarterback and top NFL Draft prospect Will Levis.
“I think this guy might have been genetically engineered to be an NFL quarterback,” former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning says at one point in an episode of “On the Clock” that breaks down Levis’ game film. “It’s easy to see why the scouts like him. Tough, durable. Makes tight throws in tight windows.”
“On the Clock” is produced by Manning’s Omaha Productions. In the show the Manning family, including Peyton, brother Eli and father Archie, follow four quarterbacks who worked as counselors at their Manning Passing Academy last summer and are now NFL Draft prospects. The episode featuring Levis will air at 5:30 p.m. ET Monday on ESPN2.
Omaha Productions provided the Herald-Leader an advance screening of the episode, which will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Kentucky fans will be familiar with many of the talking points from Levis’ episode — perhaps the only new information is a strained hamstring sidelined Levis temporarily during preseason practice — but the segment in which Peyton and Eli break down Levis’ game film offers more insight into why Levis is projected as a possible top-10 pick despite a disappointing senior season.
“I get it,” Peyton says after watching a clip of ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. raving about Levis. “I’m drinking the Kool-Aid. I’ve spent some time with this kid. I think he’s the real deal.”
The episode also features a scene from the Manning Passing Academy in which Levis solicits advice from Peyton about balancing marketing opportunities with football responsibilities, something that was a storyline for Levis at Kentucky due to his social media following and numerous name, image and likeness endorsement opportunities.
At SEC Media Days in July, Levis told reporters he had taken to heart advice from the Mannings about acting as the ambassador or CEO of an organization if he wanted to be a franchise quarterback.
That relationship has apparently carried on throughout the season as the show features frequent text message conversations between Levis and Archie.
“My biggest takeaway was just to have fun with it and realize just how special this whole process is,” Levis said earlier this month when asked about his relationship with Peyton. “I keep reminding myself that. I’m someone who can just take everything very seriously, but it’s important at the end of the day to have fun and realize how special all this is.”