Vicky Graff Photo
Will Levis didn’t get to transfer to Kentucky to go through spring practice before he became the starting quarterback in the 2021 season.
Levis had not played extensively at Penn State when he opted to come to UK but he convinced coaches and teammates he not only was the best quarterback but also a team leader before starting and leading the Cats to 10 wins in 2021.
Devin Leary was a starting quarterback at North Carolina State before an injury sidelined him in 2022. He transferred to UK in January and did get to go through spring practice even if he was still not quite 100 percent physically.
Leary has not assumed he will be the team leader. He worked to earn teammates’ trust during spring practice and plans to keep doing that this summer.
“At times when a voice needs to be heard, if I need to step up into that role, that’s a step I need to take,” Leary said before spring practice ended. “I need to be better.
“I need to continue to work on my craft every day and earn those guys’ respect, but at the same time emerge into the role that they expect me to be.”
Leary understands he’s under scrutiny from teammates, coaches and media members and has to carry himself in the “right manner” at all times.
“It reflects on your team. You’ve got to do a good job every single day. Regardless of what you have going on, as soon as you step between those lines nothing else matters besides your team,” Leary said.
“We have to do a better job of taking that approach every single day, and it starts with me.”
