Kentucky quarterback Will Levis has been sacked more than almost every quarterback in the nation going into today's game. (Vicky Graff Photo)
He’s led Kentucky to a 7-3 record but it’s no secret that quarterback Will Levis has been playing injured most of the season. He missed one game with a foot injury, hurt his shoulder in another game, has had issues with both hands and has been sacked over 30 times.
“Will’s not reckless, just because he’s tough and physical, and fights through things. He’s not a reckless person. He’s very intelligent. There’s nothing that we would let him play with that we felt like could get worse – that’s not the case. There’s a difference between hurting and being injured, and we would never let him play injured,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said.
“He’s hurting but if you ask 95 percent of our football team right now, they’re hurting. It’s a tough game. It doesn’t surprise me with Will. Yes, the mobility is unfortunate for himself and for us because we’ve seen what he’s done in the past with his mobility.”
Stoops is a defensive-minded coach who has always wanted his defense “affecting the quarterback” every game.
“That doesn’t mean it’s always sacks. When you’re getting that kind of pressure and mixing things up it affects the play, can’t help but not,” Stoops said.
Stoops said he’s had to grab Levis coming off the field several times this year and say, “Hang in there we’re going to need you, we’re going to need you to be you.”
The coach says the quarterback has done that over and over and that says “a lot about his character and his mental toughness, trusting and believing that we were going to be able to do that.”
Still, Kentucky quarterbacks have been sacked 39 times this season going into today’s game with No. 1 Georgia and Levis admitted he was very frustrated after the Vanderbilt loss.
“It’s one thing when you’re just not playing as well as the other team. It’s another thing when you’re beating yourself and guys aren’t doing the right thing and aren’t locked in,” said Levis.
