Some fans ask, who is Will Levis, as they watch the Nashville pro football club play. They see his deep throws and swift runs. They want a clear story on this young signal caller.
He was the 33rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. We will map his path from high school to pro play. We will outline his time at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Kentucky, his shoulder surgery, and his 84.2 passer rating as a rookie.
Read on.
Key Takeaways
- Will Levis grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, starred at Xavier High School (2,793 passing yards, 27 TD in 2017), then played at Penn State (2019–20: 644 passing yards, 5 passing TD, 213 rushing yards, 3 rushing TD) and Kentucky (2021–22: 5,233 passing yards, 46 passing TD, 17 rushing TD, 17–7 record), earned a finance bachelor’s in May 2021 and a master’s in December 2022.
- The Tennessee Titans drafted Levis 33rd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, assigned him jersey No. 8, and he moved from backup to starter after Ryan Tannehill’s injury.
- In his first NFL start on October 29, 2023 vs. Atlanta, Levis went 19-of-29 for 238 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, and a 130.5 rating; he finished 2023 with 1,808 passing yards, 8 passing TD, 2 rushing TD over nine starts.
- Levis set a rookie Monday Night Football mark on December 11, 2023 vs. Miami with 23-of-38 for 327 yards, 1 TD, 86.2 rating, and he became the first rookie QB to hit 300+ yards on MNF.
- He hit injured reserve in 2024 with shoulder and ankle issues, will have season-ending shoulder surgery on July 29, 2025, and miss the 2025 season, but coaches praise his grit and plan to have him compete for the 2026 starter role.
Early Life and Background
Will Levis grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, with a football at hand and a playbook in mind. His mother, Beth Kelley Levis, starred in soccer at Yale, and his dad, Mike Levis, played tight end at Denison University.
His great-grandfather, Alva Kelley, lit up the field at Cornell University. A trio of sisters, Kelley, Jillian, and Claire, made home a lively place. He cheered for the Tennessee Titans and dreamed of pro glory.
Levis played at Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut, as a three-year letterman and a 2017 captain. That senior season saw 2,793 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns fall into his stat book.
His grades hit 4.0 and he joined the National Honor Society. Coaches loved his hustle.
College Career
Levis broke into the spotlight with crushing runs and sharp passes, stacking up passing yards and rushing touchdowns on his stat sheet. He sharpened his game under lights with the Nittany Lions, then he lit up defenses with the Wildcats, setting the stage for a pro shot.
Penn State
He redshirted in 2018 for the penn state Nittany Lions, sitting behind veteran quarterbacks. He suited up for seven games and made one start in 2019. His 28 of 47 passing, 223 yards, two passing touchdowns and two interceptions got coaches talking.
He added 213 rushing yards plus three rushing touchdowns that year. He saw action in eight games and started once in 2020. His 33 of 55 passes went for 421 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for three more scores.
He earned a finance degree from penn state’s Smeal College of Business in May 2021, finishing in just three years. He balanced boardroom classes, film sessions and team meetings, showing work ethic off the field too.
His drive in class matched his grit on the gridiron.
Kentucky
Levis led the Wildcats to a ten-win season in 2021 with 24 passing touchdowns and nine rushing scores. He completed 233 of 353 passes for 2,826 yards in 13 starts that year. The following season saw him throw 19 touchdowns on 185 of 283 attempts, racking up 2,406 yards.
That effort produced a 151.9 pass efficiency rating, fourth in the SEC. His two years in Lexington added up to 5,233 yards and 54 total touchdowns, including six 300-yard passing games, fourth-most in school history.
Levis earned a master’s degree in finance from Kentucky’s Gatton School of Business and Economics in December 2022. Juggling film, workouts, and a demanding course load honed his discipline.
He left Lexington ranked sixth all-time in passing yards at 5,233 and tied for fourth with six games over 300 yards. That mix of smarts, arm talent, and toughness shone in the SEC.
Notable College Statistics
Check out core figures from his college days.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Outcome Record at Kentucky | 17-7, tied for 2nd most wins since 1993 |
| Air Completions | 479 of 738 attempts |
| Air TD Scored | 46 touchdowns |
| Ground Yards | 742 yards |
| Ground TDs | 17 scores |
| Leadership Roles | Voted captain twice |
Entry into the NFL
Levis jumped into the pros through the NFL Draft, an AFC South franchise picked him in round two after strong combine drills, so read on to learn more.
NFL Draft and Selection
Tennessee Titans took Will Levis 33rd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. General manager Ran Carthon picked the former Kentucky quarterback. Will had a bachelor’s and master’s in finance from Penn State and Kentucky.
Teams marked him among the top QBs selected. He clocked fast throws at the scouting combine. He went ahead of Malik Willis and Mason Rudolph.
Fans saw a rookie sit beside veteran Ryan Tannehill in Nashville. Titans coach Mike Vrabel praised his arm strength. Supporters eyed his first passing touchdown with DeAndre Hopkins.
He settled next to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on the depth chart. Cam Ward and other staff cheered his pick. He packed his bags for rookie camp.
Joining the Tennessee Titans
Will Levis signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. He wears jersey number 8. He joined a QB room with Brandon Allen, Tim Boyle, and Cameron Ward. He hit the ground running, and dove into the playbook concept with his tablet device.
GM Mike Borgonzi hailed his fire, and coach Brian Callahan called him a fierce competitor.
He started as an inactive backup behind Ryan Tannehill. Then he seized the snaps and grabbed the starter role. He studied each play call on his tablet device, sharpening his arm for passing touchdowns.
Titans fans noticed his spark in practice.
Professional Career Highlights
He lit up the Tennessee Titans’ 2023 season, tossing 12 passing touchdowns, powering in two rushing scores, and sparking buzz beside Ryan Tannehill, so keep reading for more thrills.
2023 Season
Levis made his first NFL start on October 29, 2023, against the Falcons. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 238 passing yards. He tossed four passing touchdowns and posted a 130.5 quarterback rating.
He joined Tarkenton and Mariota as the third rookie in NFL history with four TD passes in a debut. That effort set the best passer rating in franchise history by a rookie’s first game, on at least 20 attempts.
Rookie quarterback Levis started nine games for the Titans. He threw for 1,808 passing yards and tallied eight passing touchdowns. He rose from third-string to starter after Ryan Tannehill suffered an injury.
Coaches ran film studies and praised his performance metric growth and rapid adaptation to live play.
Memorable Performances
Will Levis cracked the spotlight on Monday Night Football in 2023. He piled up 327 passing yards and lit up the night.
- On December 11, 2023 vs the Miami Dolphins he threw 23 of 38 passes and totaled 327 passing yards.
- He threw one touchdown and earned an 86.2 passer rating, a nod for Rookie of the Week.
- He sparked a Tennessee Titans comeback by adding 15 points in 51 seconds, flipping a 27-13 deficit.
- He became the first NFL rookie QB to surpass 300 passing yards on Monday Night Football.
Key Improvements in Gameplay
Titans camp gave Will Levis a boost. Practice drills ended with a 22-of-30 clip, proof of growing accuracy. Film study sharpened his pre-snap reads. Rookie starts backed that up. The stat line read 60.3 percent completions (41 of 68), 500 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, one pick, and a 96.4 passer rating.
Levis unleashed deep strikes like a slingshot. He launched a 49-yard touchdown to Tay Martin. Another saw a 63-yard gain to Calvin Ridley and a 39-yard dart to the same. By his third start he pushed totals to 699 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, though defenders wrapped him up for ten sacks.
That work showed growth in power and vision.
Playing Style and Strengths
Will Levis spins footballs like a craftsman. A strong arm fueled 20 passing touchdowns in 2023. Pocket awareness shows in his dropback reads. Quick release boosted passing yards past 3,100.
A gritty runner added four rushing touchdowns. The inked verse 2nd Chronicles 15:7 feeds his never give up mantra.
Fast pace marks his play on read option and play action. Leadership glows in the huddle, guiding Pat Freiermuth, KJ Hamler and Brenton Strange. Clutch throws shine under pressure, even after shoulder surgery.
Tennessee Titans fans cheer his mix of grit and calm. Coaches call his style a blueprint for winning.
Challenges and Growth
Levis hit walls early. He suffered ten sacks in his first three starts. Week 4 vs. the Miami Dolphins hurt his right shoulder. The team marked him limited for two days. He still faced the Patriots.
An ankle tweak kept him sidelined soon after. The crew turned to Ryan Tannehill and Mason Rudolph. He voiced loud frustration. He vowed to keep his fire.
He toughened up with each snap. He shed mistakes after the Jaguars game. He even ran for a rushing touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He piled up more passing yards and set new passing touchdowns marks in follow-up games.
He studied system reads like a guy with a finance degree from Smeal College of Business. He dodged a trip to surgery after that shoulder scare. He bounced back fully with the Tennessee Titans.
He stands ready for more wins.
What Happened to Will Levis?
Tennessee Titans put him on Injured Reserve after he hurt his shoulder and ankle in the 2024 season. He will have season-ending shoulder surgery on July 29, 2025, and miss the entire 2025 NFL campaign.
Coach Brian Callahan said both Will Levis and Mason Rudolph can play in the season finale, yet he did not name a starter. Staff praised his grit, saying he dug deep during recovery.
He rose after six weeks on the bench to run the offense in his rookie year.
Personal Life and Interests
Levis comes from a family of athletes and scholars. The Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis balances his NFL life with family roots. His mother, Beth, played soccer at Yale. Mike, his dad, starred in football at Denison University.
Great-grandfather Alva Kelley earned letters on Cornell’s squad. Uncle David Kelley snagged Academic All-America honors at Yale. Youth at Xavier High School taught him discipline.
Inked on his inner arm, 2nd Chronicles 15:7 fuels his grit. Jesting about three younger sisters, he says they teach blitz angles. Keeping pace with cheer squad energy rivals chasing passing touchdowns or hauling in rushing touchdowns in drills.
Levis stays busy off field. Watched by many, his Cameo campaign funded relief for Kentucky flood victims. Autograph signings brought smiles to tornado survivors. Lipscomb Academy hosted his QBMotion LAUNCH Series camp in Nashville on May 10, 2024.
Special Olympics of Tennessee named him special guest at their Summer Games Opening Ceremonies in 2024. Fans connect on X, Instagram, and TikTok under @will_levis.
Future Outlook and Expectations
Tennessee Titans will kick off the next offseason phase with three days of organized team activities. Will Levis will miss the 2025 NFL season due to a scheduled shoulder surgery. He might be down, but he is far from out.
Team leaders applaud his competitive spark and hunger for growth. Coaches blend playbook work, game tape sessions, and drill days to keep him on track. This approach aims to sharpen his pocket poise and decision speed before he returns.
Brian Callahan and GM Mike Borgonzi call him a key piece for the future. He will vie with Brandon Allen, Tim Boyle and Cameron Ward for the starting spot. Practice will measure passing touchdowns and passing yards each day.
He has a fire in his belly and eyes set on the goal line. Fans hope he tops his 2023 marks and lights up the scoreboard.
Takeaway
Levis rose fast. He fired passes, piled up passing yards, and proved his grit. Game film work shaped each throw. Records fell as he set a new passer rating mark for rookies. That 300-yard night lit up Monday play.
This finance grad earned degrees at Penn State and Kentucky. A shoulder scare paused his ride. Leaders know he plans a strong return as starter. Scouts will track his moves with GPS stats and Pro Football Focus grades.
Fans expect his spark to light the Music City squad.
FAQs
1. Who is Will Levis?
Will Levis is a rising NFL quarterback on the Tennessee Titans. He grew up cheering for the Minnesota Vikings. He has a rocket arm and quick feet.
2. Where did he play college ball and what did he study?
He threw passes at Penn State in the Smeal College of Business. He then earned a finance degree at Denison University.
3. What honors did he earn in high school?
He starred at a Connecticut prep school. He won Walter Camp All-Connecticut honors, joined the National Honor Society, earned the brother Celestine academic award and was a Ryken Scholar.
4. What are his key stats?
He logged big passing yards and led team charts in passing touchdowns. He also piled up rushing touchdowns.
5. Has he had any injuries?
He had shoulder surgery in college, but he bounced back strong. He did not miss key games.
6. Which vets and teams does he mirror?
Fans link him to Ryan Tannehill, Marcus Mariota, and Fran Tarkenton. He trains with QBs from the Houston Texans and the Atlanta Falcons. He breaks down film on the Black and Gold club defense, the Chicago Bears secondary, and the Ohio franchise pass rush. He even checks the D C squad blitz.
