Exploring Where Did Will Levis Play College Football: A Journey from Penn State to Kentucky

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Fans often ask where did will levis play college football. They find bits on penn state and kentucky wildcats. They want one clear account. They need a simple stat sheet for his path.

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He moved from penn state to kentucky in 2021. We trace his path with key games and stats. We list his passing yards, touchdowns, and honors. Keep reading.

Key Takeaways

In high school at Xavier High (Madison, CT), Will Levis threw for 5,419 yards and 55 touchdowns, earned Hartford Courant Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Camp All-Connecticut honors, and ranked as a three-star, 28th-best pro-style QB in the 2018 class.
At Penn State (2018–2020), he redshirted in 2018, then played 15 games over 2019–20, completing 61 of 102 passes for 644 yards, three TDs, and rushing for 473 yards with six scores while earning All-Big Ten academic honors.
After entering the transfer portal, Levis joined Kentucky in January 2021, started 24 games (2021–22), threw for 5,233 yards and 43 TDs, added 11 rushing TDs, logged six 300+-yard games, and led the Wildcats to 17 wins and two bowl appearances.
He graduated with a finance degree from Penn State in May 2021, earned a master’s in finance at Kentucky in December 2022, won Academic All-America (2022), Citrus Bowl MVP, and ranked in the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm top 10 before his NFL draft selection by the Tennessee Titans.

High School Career and Recruitment

Will Levis lit up the Xavier High field in Madison, Connecticut, piling up passing yards and rushing touchdowns, and he earned Hartford Courant Offensive Player of the Year plus a Walter Camp All-Connecticut nod.

Penn State scouts buzzed over his pro-style quarterback poise and National Honor Society grades, and scholarship offers poured in.

What kind of prospect was Will Levis in high school?

Levis entered college as a three-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class. Recruiting services like 247Sports and Rivals rated him as the 28th-best pro-style quarterback in the nation.

He earned a spot as the second-best player in Connecticut. Coaches named him to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Top 25. His grades shone too. He won All-SCC Tier 1 academic athlete honors in 2017 and joined the National Honor Society as a Ryken Scholar.

He passed for 5,419 yards and 55 touchdowns in his high school career. At Xavier High School, he broke multiple records for passing yards and completions in his senior season. Scouts called him a pro-style signal caller with sharp pass efficiency.

Newspaper awards included Hartford Courant Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Camp All-Connecticut honors.

College Beginnings at Penn State

He joined the Penn State squad as a pro-style quarterback in 2019, backed up the starter, saw action in the Citrus Bowl, and won an All-Big Ten academic honor—keep reading.

Years played and role on the team

Will Levis spent three seasons with the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2018 to 2020. He redshirted in 2018 and did not appear in any games. Coaches used him as a backup quarterback in Big Ten Conference matchups.

He played in 15 games during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Levis studied finance at the Smeal College of Business while he sharpened his craft. He earned his degree in May 2021. Teammates counted on his film study and practice reps to push the group.

Coaches saw him master the pro-style playbook and refine his signal calling.

Notable performances and stats at Penn State

Levis played two seasons for the Nittany Lions. He saw action in 2019 and 2020.

In 2019 he played seven games for the Nittany Lions. He completed 28 of 47 passes for 223 passing yards, he threw two passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
That season saw him rush 51 times, he gained 213 rushing yards, he scored three rushing touchdowns.
During 2020 he played eight contests for the Nittany Lions. He completed 33 of 55 throws for 421 passing yards, he added one passing touchdown and no interceptions.
He also ran 82 times that year, he piled up 260 rushing yards, he found the end zone on three rushing touchdowns.

Transfer to Kentucky

Levis left Penn State seeking a starting role, plugged in as the SEC’s Kentucky Wildcats quarterback, and you’ll want to read on to see how he thrived in Lexington.

Reasons behind the transfer

Will Levis saw limited snaps at Penn State. His playing time stayed low, with few passing yards on record. The quarterback tapped into the NCAA transfer portal after the 2020 season.

More time on the field drove his decision. A starting role sat at the top of his wish list.

Kentucky welcomed him in January 2021. The Wildcats play in the SEC, a top conference. His goal entailed earning the first-string quarterback job. That move gave him a path to larger passing yards and touchdowns.

He planned to sharpen his pro-style quarterback skills.

Transition to a starting quarterback role

Kentucky coaches named Levis the starter for the 2021 season. He led the Wildcats in 24 games across 2021 and 2022. Levis won 17 contests, tying the second-most quarterback wins since 1993.

The pro-style offense saw him throw 43 passing touchdowns and score 11 rushing touchdowns. Study of game film helped him master snap-count calls and the playbook.

Levis guided Kentucky Wildcats to two bowl trips. He starred in a Citrus Bowl victory with clutch throws. Crowds cheered his poise on big downs.

Success at Kentucky

Levis stormed the SEC, threw for 2,700 passing yards, hit 19 touchdowns, ran for 550 yards, claimed all-SEC honors and led Kentucky to a Citrus Bowl win as captain—keep reading to learn more.

Key stats, highlights, and records

As Kentucky’s pro style quarterback, will levis lit up SEC defenses. His feats now stand tall in the Wildcats’ history.

In the 2021 campaign he completed 233 of 353 pass attempts (66 percent), racked up 2,827 passing yards, threw 24 touchdowns, and added 376 rushing yards with nine scores.
The 2022 season saw him finish 185 completions on 283 throws (65.4 percent), 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes, and two rushing touchdowns despite minus 107 yards on 72 carries.
Kentucky logs 17 wins under his leadership, the second highest victory total by a quarterback in school history.
A set of six games with over 300 passing yards places him fourth in 300-yard outings at Kentucky.
43 career touchdown passes stand fifth in the Wildcats’ record book.
5,233 passing yards place him sixth on Kentucky’s all time list.
Average yardage per attempt stood at 8.0, reflecting his efficient pro style play.

Memorable games and performances

Will Levis took charge in big games. He left a mark on Kentucky football.

Citrus Bowl triumph led him to a January bowl title, as he ran the offense and guided the Wildcats past Iowa.
300+ yard outburst showed his arm, with six games topping that mark, a career high for passing yards.
Conference clash highlight came with four passing touchdowns in an SEC showdown, drawing national talk about his pro-style quarterback craft.
Winning leader status tied him for second-most wins at 17, a mark at Kentucky since 1993 that still stands.
Dual-threat power shone through 54 total touchdowns, 43 by pass and 11 by rush, driving key victories.

Awards and Honors Earned

He grabbed Academic All-Big Ten praise, Walter Camp All-Connecticut acclaim and a Citrus Bowl MVP—read on to catch every honor.

National and conference-level recognitions

Will Levis earned top awards as a pro-style quarterback at Kentucky. His work earned nods from national panels and SEC writers.

College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Division I Football Team Member of the Year in 2022 for his academics and play
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10 in 2022 for his arm strength and decision making under pressure
Davey O’Brien Award watch list selection in 2021 and 2022 as one of the nation’s leading quarterbacks
Preseason Third-Team All-SEC nod in 2022 after he threw 2,827 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns for the Kentucky Wildcats in 2021
Walter Camp Connecticut Player of the Year and Hartford Courant Offensive Player of the Year from his time at Xavier High School in Madison, Connecticut

Academic achievements

He kept a perfect 4.0 GPA at Xavier High School in Madison, Connecticut. Coaches praised his knack for numbers, and he won the All-SCC Tier 1 academic athlete honor in 2017. School leaders inducted him into the National Honor Society and named him a Ryken Scholar after he earned the Brother Celestine Academic Award.

Penn State professors challenged him like a coach pushing a fourth-quarter play. That spring, he earned his finance degree in May 2021, and he used financial analysis and spreadsheet software in case studies.

Kentucky then put him back in class, and he earned a master’s in finance from Gatton School of Business and Economics in December 2022. Data modeling labs felt like game plans, they tested his focus and time management.

Who is Will Levis?

Born on June 27, 1999, in Newton, Massachusetts, Will Levis stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 229 pounds. His mother, Beth Kelley Levis, earned two All-America soccer honors at Yale, and his father, Mike Levis, played tight end at Denison University.

He honors his great-grandfather, Alva Kelley, for the 1939 Cornell national title. Sisters Kelley, Jillian, and Claire cheer him on every day. He bears a tattoo of 2nd Chronicles 15:7 and lives by “Never give up.” He posts highlights on X, Instagram, and TikTok as @will_levis.

Will Levis starred as a pro-style quarterback at Penn State and with the Kentucky Wildcats. He earned SEC respect as a team captain and racked up passing touchdowns and rushing yards.

Scouts praised his arm strength and high passer rating in big games. The Tennessee Titans picked him in the NFL draft, and he began life as a rookie quarterback on TNT Sports.

Takeaway

Will Levis grew in his craft at Penn State and at Kentucky. He threw for big passing yards, rushed for key touchdowns, and led his Wildcats as a team captain. That move to Lexington made him a true leader.

He won a postseason bowl game and shined in big moments. Scouts spotted his arm strength at the pro selection event. His college story ends with a draft pick in hand, and a bright pro road ahead.

FAQs

1. What high school did Will Levis attend before college football?

He played at Xavier High School in Madison, Connecticut, where he won the Hartford Courant Offensive Player of the Year and made the Walter Camp All-Connecticut team.

2. Where did he start his college career?

Levis joined the Penn State Nittany Lions as a pro-style quarterback. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, joined the National Honor Society, threw for over 1,200 passing yards and logged 12 passing touchdowns.

3. Why did he hit the road from Penn State to Kentucky?

He wanted more snaps in the SEC, and the Kentucky Wildcats fit his style like a glove.

4. How did he perform at Kentucky?

He became team captain, threw more than 2,500 passing yards, racked up 23 passing touchdowns, ran for 500 rushing yards, scored five rushing touchdowns, and led his squad to a Citrus Bowl victory.