Will Levis: What to know about Titans rookie QB making NFL debut against Falcons

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis will make his NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Levis will be active for the first time this season on Sunday with Ryan Tannehill out with an ankle injury. While coach Mike Vrabel didn’t commit to a starter and only has said that Levis and Malik Willis will both play, Levis is expected to be the team's "primary QB" according to the NFL Network.

It’s been a lengthy journey for the Connecticut native that had to transfer from the Big Ten to the SEC to find the right opportunity.

Here’s what to know about Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis:

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New England to Penn State

Levis was born in Massachusetts and grew up in Connecticut, attending Xavier High School in Middletown. A member of the Class of 2018, Levis set school passing records at Xavier. Levis was a three-star recruit, ranked as the No. 25 pro-style quarterback by 247Sports and committed to Penn State over offers from Iowa, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Cincinnati.

Levis redshirted in 2018 and earned the No. 2 job behind Sean Clifford in 2019. Levis made his first career start in the 2019 regular season finale against Rutgers, rushing for 108 yards and throwing for a touchdown in a victory. Levis featured in six games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season as a change-of-pace running quarterback as Clifford struggled. But despite Clifford’s struggles, Levis’ path to a chance at earning the starting job wasn’t clear. He also sought an opportunity to be more than a run-first quarterback.

Kentucky football star in 2021

Levis transferred from Penn State to Kentucky after the 2020 season, with Clifford fully entrenched for two more seasons in State College. He would have no such obstacle at UK.

Levis was the guy at quarterback from the start of 2021 preseason practice in Lexington. The Wildcats offense and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen still leaned on running back Chris Rodriguez, and Levis did throw at least one interception in the first five games. But he was a clear upgrade from three previous seasons of a woeful passing game as Kentucky started the season 6-0. Levis threw for three touchdowns and ran for two scores in a blowout win against LSU, showing off his rushing ability in the process.

A three-game losing streak followed, and Levis’ three interceptions contributed to the loss at Mississippi State. He also threw a critical interception returned for a touchdown in a 45-42 loss to Tennessee.

The Wildcats finished the season with four wins in a row, and Levis appeared to find some consistency. He threw two early touchdowns in a blowout win over Vanderbilt, had four touchdown passes against New Mexico State and ran for four touchdowns in a win at Louisville. Levis put a bow on his season by leading Kentucky on a game-winning drive in the Citrus Bowl against stingy Iowa, the highlight play being a nice touch pass to Wan’Dale Robinson for 52 yards to set up first and goal.

Fair or not, Levis’ excellent finish to the 2021 season served as a turbo boost regarding public perception for the next year.

Kentucky's Will Levis hurdles a Florida defender in the second half as the Wildcats beat No. 10 Florida to remain undefeated Saturday night. Oct. 2, 2021

More expectations on Will Levis, Kentucky in 2022

Levis and Kentucky had high expectations going into the 2022 season. The Wildcats were ranked in the preseason, and the first round talk surrounded Levis from the start of preseason practice. New offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s offense came from the NFL and wasn’t expected to be much of a change from Coen (who took the offensive coordinator job at the LA Rams).

Kentucky beat Florida in Gainesville, and Levis had a highlight-reel 55-yard touchdown pass to Dane Key. The Wildcats vaulted up into the top 10 and finished September at 4-0.

But the signs were showing off a decayed and inefficient offense. Levis’ rushing ability was rendered moot by the new offense and an offensive line that was giving up pressures and sacks at an alarming rate. Rodriguez was suspended for the first four games, and his impact on the offense wasn’t fully felt in Kentucky’s one-score loss at Ole Miss. The Oct. 1 game was decided on a strip-sack of Levis in the red zone in the final minute, moments after a procedure penalty wiped away a Levis go-ahead touchdown pass.

Levis injured his toe in the Ole Miss game and missed a loss to South Carolina. The line continued to struggle to protect Levis, and his limited mobility didn’t help UK’s passing game find any consistency. Levis was up and down the rest of the way — he completed 74% of his passes in a win over No. 16 Mississippi State, then threw three interceptions in his worst collegiate performance at Tennessee, then three touchdowns in a win at Missouri a week later, then throwing for just 109 yards in a home loss to Vanderbilt in the next game.

While many of Levis’ efficiency statistics were slightly up in 2022 compared to 2021, his rushing total went from 376 yards and nine touchdowns to minus-107 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. Kentucky went 7-5, and a banged-up Levis opted out of the bowl game.

Titans trade up to select Will Levis in the 2023 NFL Draft

Levis was considered among the group of four quarterbacks that were potential first round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, and many draft experts expected all four to be selected in the top 15. Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson were the others, and all were selected in the first four picks on April 27. But Levis had to wait in Kansas City, the site of the draft, as the selections continued through the teens (and past the Titans’ No. 11 pick) and into the 20s. Levis went unselected on Day 1, and he didn’t wait around in KC for Day 2.

Levis’ wait in Day 2 was short, as the Titans traded up from No. 41 overall to No. 33 overall, sending a 2023 third round pick and a 2024 third round pick as well to Arizona to move up and select Levis with the second pick in the second round.

Missed NFL preseason time and opportunity

Levis and Willis, the 2022 third round pick, battled to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Ryan Tannehill through the preseason. Willis won the job, in part because Levis missed time following the first preseason game.

Levis served as the No. 3 quarterback for the Titans first six regular season games. Willis stepped in for an injured Tannehill in London against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 15 and struggled, much like he did in three starts in 2022. The door has been reopened for Levis to pass Willis on the depth chart and stake his claim as the franchise's quarterback of the future.