Will Levis was not one of the four quarterbacks picked by Athlon Sports on its four preseason all-SEC teams. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky football fans should thank Athlon Sports.
Just in case Kentucky quarterback Will Levis had any thoughts of getting a little complacent after seeing his name mentioned prominently as a potential NFL first-round draft pick, Athlon Sports took care of that.
The magazine’s preseason all-SEC team included nine Kentucky players — Alabama had 18, Georgia 13, Texas A&M 12 and Tennessee 10 — on the four offensive and defensive teams it picked.
But there was no Levis. Instead, the first-team quarterback is Bryce Young of Alabama, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and a logical pick. However, Tenenssee’s Hendon Hooker is on the second team, KJ Jefferson of Arkansas on the third team and Will Rogers of Mississippi State on the fourth team.
Kentucky’s only first-team pick was running back Chris Rodriguez, a player many still insist might miss part/all of the season for disciplinary reasons even though coach Mark Stoops has not mentioned that.
Offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey and linebacker J.J. Weaver were second-team picks. Offensive lineman Eli Cox was on the third team.
Fourth-team picks were receiver Tayvion Robinson, defensive back Tyrell Ajian, linebacker DeAndre Square and defensive lineman Justin Rogers.
Robinson is a transfer who has yet to play a game in the SEC and he got a preseason honor. Rogers is a junior still waiting to prove himself and he got on one of the Athlon teams.
Yet Levis — who led UK to 10 wins and a bowl game victory and is a potential first-round draft pick — cannot get any love from Athlon Sports.
Just guessing that maybe UK associate coach Vince Marrow will point that out to him a few times between now and the end of the season when I think Levis will show just how wrong Athlon Sports.
3 Responses
Levis has strengths and some not so strong skills. Has he improved since last year…time will tell. If Levis tries to do more than he is capable of, he just might prove Athlon right. What did Rodriquez do to be in trouble?
DUI
Levis needs protection giving him time to throw, and then several key receivers that will pick up where Wandale left off. UK could have all 5 star players in every position on the field and still get slighted, as usual.
UK must win the SEC East, and play for a SEC championship, sooner than later, to get any real respect. I agree this slight to Levis should light a fire under him, and his team. I think UK must beat UT, convincingly too, and UGA, in 2022 in order to put this team in the "big time" respect column. UK is still lagging behind the ugly A$$ orange in the talent department it would seem to indicate as well. It is crazy that we are hearing nothing on the status of C-Rod. I guess no news is better than bad news. I don’t think UK can win 10 or more without him.