Will Levis got hit a lot at Ole Miss but NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay still has him No. 7 overall on his 2023 draft board. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin couldn’t help noting how his team managed to beat Kentucky and Will Levis, the potential first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, in his postgame remarks last week.
Levis had two late fumbles in the red zone that wiped out chances for UK to win or tie the game. Some felt Levis did not have his best game in the 22-19 loss and could have hurt his draft status.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay noted before the Ole Miss game that Levis was clearly one of the nation’s top three quarterbacks. McShay worked the Ole Miss-UK game for ESPN and obviously got to watch Levis in person.
McShay named his 32 best NFL prospects for the 2023 draft this week. So where did he have Levis? McShay ranked him No. 7 overall with quarterbacks C.J. Stroud of Ohio State (3rd) and Bryce Young of Alabama (4th) ahead of him.
Levis went into this season rated 21st on McShay’s list.
“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said earlier this week. “I just love his competitive nature, I love his ability, I love the way he is playing. He did some amazing things to put us in position (to win) there (Ole Miss).”
Stoops said he tried to tell Levis “I loved him” after his fourth-quarter fumbles and reminded everyone of the perfect ball he threw to Dane Key for a touchdown catch that was negated by a procedure penalty. Stoops also said one deep ball to Barion Brown was thrown perfectly and Brown missed by inches making the catch.
Levis got hit a lot again — and not just on the two plays where he fumbled. He dislocated a finger on his left hand but popped it back into place and never missed a snap.
Stoops knows the constant hits will wear on Levis just like they would any player.
“It’s a tough game and Will is tough as nails, but it takes its toll,” Stoops said. “Ask any quarterback in our league. Ask (Jaxson) Dart (of Ole Miss) how he feels today and he’s a really good player.”
Levis not only dislocated a finger on his left hand at Ole Miss, but he also hurt his leg on a play late in the game when he fumbled and it looks like it will be a game-time decision on whether he plays Saturday night or Stoops gives the ball to backup quarterback Kaiya Sheron.
