From someone who signed a $100,000 NIL deal with Will Levis let’s actually let the truth have it’s day when it comes to character.

[bradyjames_rivals]

What is it like working with Will Levis? Easier than any other athlete we have dealt with in this capacity. He was the most professional of any athlete we have dealt with including names like Ric Flair, Kevin Byard, Etc.

I sat with him once and watched him probably take a hundred pictures with kids without even a hint of frustration in the middle of a sporting event he was there to watch.

Once I asked him to tape a KSR commercial for us that wasn’t in our agreement. He did it within the week. Another time I had come to Lexington to support Will during a commercial release. Once he realized I was there he text and asked me to come back to his waiting room and just talk life. He didn’t have to do that obviously. May not seem like much but it’s a gesture of kindness when you don’t have to be and nobody is looking.

He was humble, kind and appreciative to all fans when cameras weren’t rolling we interacted with him. It wasn’t an act. It was the same each time we were around him.

Just wanted to share some actual interactions with him behind closed doors or in a business situation. Rather than Twitter trolls or Reddit imaginary stories about him. He’s legit as they get when it comes to being a professional.

Grand Slam Collectibles.

 

[RDF922]

Awesome to know

Sadly in todays world these traits seem to be lost on people.

Some team is going to be very lucky that he fell in the Draft and get a great young man and QB!

 

[Soupbean]

Yeah model behavior is kind of mocked, ridiculed and attacked now days and I think Will was so polished it probably seemed to outsiders like it was a front. Will was so solid and together as a person it may have worked against him in todays climate. And when he worked in a little self confidence in with it, it opened the gate for people wanting to take him down a notch.

I think some of of that seeped in Todd McShays mindset this draft. He hinted at it alot during the lead up then last night pulled off one of the most classless acts Ive seen in a while at the desk using Will to ridicule Mel about it. I know he was just trying to have fun with Mel for the audience but it took a big time lack of awareness to how demeaning and hurtful that was to Will and his family and fans. He should apologize.

 

[NavyCat88]

I am very pleased to hear from the team at Grand-Slam that Will Levis is professional and attentive to fans behind the curtain. That is an important perspective--very important.

Forensic review of combine and draft preparation: I think he might have displayed some vintage 1990s-era, pi$$ and vinegar, gun-slinger attitude in his interviews that may have been off-putting to the more modern-day corporate NFL suits. Levis' confidence was translated as arrogance in the post-interview reports.

I think an owner like the late-Al Davis would have eaten up a guy like Will Levis...already would have had him discussing plays last night.

Bottom line, When the pads are on, Levis is a knife fighter...a brawler...a line-backer in QB clothing. He will succeed wildly or fail with his MMA mindset.

We loved him here at UK....NFL risk managers hit the pause button.

He will get his chance regardless.

GBB!

 

[so_obvious]

Great post, thanks for the insight. I expected no less based on his time here at UK. Seemed like a truly great dude and even better teammate.

Hoping his wait to hear his name called turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

 

[FinnaGoHAM]

What is it like working with Will Levis? Easier than any other athlete we have dealt with in this capacity. He was the most professional of any athlete we have dealt with including names like Ric Flair, Kevin Byard, Etc.

I sat with him once and watched him probably take a hundred pictures with kids without even a hint of frustration in the middle of a sporting event he was there to watch.

Once I asked him to tape a KSR commercial for us that wasn’t in our agreement. He did it within the week. Another time I had come to Lexington to support Will during a commercial release. Once he realized I was there he text and asked me to come back to his waiting room and just talk life. He didn’t have to do that obviously. May not seem like much but it’s a gesture of kindness when you don’t have to be and nobody is looking.

He was humble, kind and appreciative to all fans when cameras weren’t rolling we interacted with him. It wasn’t an act. It was the same each time we were around him.

Just wanted to share some actual interactions with him behind closed doors or in a business situation. Rather than Twitter trolls or Reddit imaginary stories about him. He’s legit as they get when it comes to being a professional.

Grand Slam Collectibles.

Thank you. This restores my faith in what I already believed about him.

 

[K_TIME]

1. Will is rumored to be arrogant....but in the same breath they praise AR15 for saying "I'll be in the hall of fame" and if you don't expect to be great I don't want that in my QB. So, which way is it?
2. Will played the year on a bad wheel when he could have shut it down....but he grinded it out. I was at the ice cold UGA game....he comes out sleeveless, throws a really solid game (and he played UGA D twice and performed fine both times). Will was hyping up the team and a leader.

TIme will tell on
- Young is fantastic in college....but there has never been a QB that small that was pro bowl QB
- Stroud....has huge questions of why Ohio St QBs fail to translate to pros
- AR15....I just laugh at McShay raving on him. The kid was a bust in college and never had success at Florida in the same two years Levis played. Florida finished 6-7 the two years he played....I am stunned nobody is looking at him thru win totals and it wasn't like UF D was giving up 40pts and the offense was fine. THe offense was more problematic than the D IMO. And Florida fans comment AR15 wasn't the best lockeroom guy.

So Will hopefully lands in a cleaner spot (I am hoping Lions) that he can win faster than a long rebuild.

 

[Johnfarrel]

I am very pleased to hear from the team at Grand-Slam that Will Levis is professional and attentive to fans behind the curtain. That is an important perspective--very important.

Forensic review of combine and draft preparation: I think he might have displayed some vintage 1990s-era, pi$$ and vinegar, gun-slinger attitude in his interviews that may have been off-putting to the more modern-day corporate NFL suits. Levis' confidence was translated as arrogance in the post-interview reports.

I think an owner like the late-Al Davis would have eaten up a guy like Will Levis...already would have had him discussing plays last night.

Bottom line, When the pads are on, Levis is a knife fighter...a brawler...a line-backer in QB clothing. He will succeed wildly or fail with his MMA mindset.

We loved him here at UK....NFL risk managers hit the pause button.

He will get his chance regardless.

GBB!

The article on the home page says a couple of teams were put off because of his toe injury. One thought he might need surgery. Could be the reason the Colts passed on him and took Richardson. Hooker is in the same boat with his knee injury. Two teams are going to get bargains with those two.

 

[KMKAT]

All QBs are arrogant. It means nothing other than showing confidence they have to have to be successful.
All the flash from these QBs these days is all show. Peyton Manning had great things to say about him. He doesn't have to be a Top pick to be a top QB. Ask Drew Brees, who EVERYONE passed on.

From my perspective, its Day 2 and Will should be hoping for a NFC team to give him that chance. He has a much better chance of getting reps there.

Come on Atlanta; very few QBs last 17 games, much less a one year rookie. Put him in your QB room and let the best man win.

 

[K_TIME]

The article on the home page says a couple of teams were put off because of his toe injury. One thought he might need surgery. Could be the reason the Colts passed on him and took Richardson. Hooker is in the same boat with his knee injury. Two teams are going to get bargains with those two.

Turf toe doesn't need surgery....another total BS story. Time heals it fine.

 

[UKSanders_rivals37733]

1. Will is rumored to be arrogant....but in the same breath they praise AR15 for saying "I'll be in the hall of fame" and if you don't expect to be great I don't want that in my QB. So, which way is it?
2. Will played the year on a bad wheel when he could have shut it down....but he grinded it out. I was at the ice cold UGA game....he comes out sleeveless, throws a really solid game (and he played UGA D twice and performed fine both times). Will was hyping up the team and a leader.

TIme will tell on
- Young is fantastic in college....but there has never been a QB that small that was pro bowl QB
- Stroud....has huge questions of why Ohio St QBs fail to translate to pros
- AR15....I just laugh at McShay raving on him. The kid was a bust in college and never had success at Florida in the same two years Levis played. Florida finished 6-7 the two years he played....I am stunned nobody is looking at him thru win totals and it wasn't like UF D was giving up 40pts and the offense was fine. THe offense was more problematic than the D IMO. And Florida fans comment AR15 wasn't the best lockeroom guy.

So Will hopefully lands in a cleaner spot (I am hoping Lions) that he can win faster than a long rebuild.

I think we have similar thoughts. I think it's no surprise Levis either doesn't see the field quickly or doesn't trust what he sees, and there are some questions of his consistency with short to intermediate throws.

I have no problem believing those could be enough to push him out of the 1st round. With that said, what blows my mind is the love for AR15. Every knock against Levis seems even more magnified with him. If you look up accuracy inconsistency in the dictionary, his picture would be there.

I hope AR15 is getting really good financial advice with this first contract b/c unless he improves EXPONENTIALLY, I think it will be his last as an NFL QB.

 

[School boy]

He's not really a QB. So even if he doesn't work out as a career backup, he'll be a great fullback. A top 3 one for a team. A win win for drafting him, he should go somewhere between 85-120 pick but some GM will take a chance on him thinking he can be a starter one day down the line.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Thanks for sharing. I never interacted with him but don't at all buy the arrogance as any validation for the Richardson pick. There is 0% chance he was arrogant and even less that he was so arrogant it cost him a first round pick.

In truth it's just talking heads trying to justify what is really just an unjustifiable pick by the colts. Since you can't rationalize it, you have to start guessing and reaching. That's all it is

 

[UKnCincy_rivals]

Turf toe doesn't need surgery....another total BS story. Time heals it fine.

That’s not true. If it’s a severe injury or doesn’t heal as expected, then turf toe can require surgery.

 

[JLoad22]

1. Will is rumored to be arrogant....but in the same breath they praise AR15 for saying "I'll be in the hall of fame" and if you don't expect to be great I don't want that in my QB. So, which way is it?
2. Will played the year on a bad wheel when he could have shut it down....but he grinded it out. I was at the ice cold UGA game....he comes out sleeveless, throws a really solid game (and he played UGA D twice and performed fine both times). Will was hyping up the team and a leader.

TIme will tell on
- Young is fantastic in college....but there has never been a QB that small that was pro bowl QB
- Stroud....has huge questions of why Ohio St QBs fail to translate to pros
- AR15....I just laugh at McShay raving on him. The kid was a bust in college and never had success at Florida in the same two years Levis played. Florida finished 6-7 the two years he played....I am stunned nobody is looking at him thru win totals and it wasn't like UF D was giving up 40pts and the offense was fine. THe offense was more problematic than the D IMO. And Florida fans comment AR15 wasn't the best lockeroom guy.

So Will hopefully lands in a cleaner spot (I am hoping Lions) that he can win faster than a long rebuild.

They are saying he came off as kind of "weird" in some of the interviews and that some doctors are saying to get his toe operated on now whereas he says ready to go. An operation obviously means he's not ready to go immediately. Too many clouds to fool with, it seems. Someone will get him in round 2 for a bargain. He'll have to prove himself if he wants to make beacoup bucks.

 

[Johnfarrel]

Turf toe doesn't need surgery....another total BS story. Time heals it fine.

Maybe there is concern that it may be something more than turf toe. Or maybe it was disinformation put out to enhance someone else's chances. Those things happen.

 

[Thunder Mash]

Had the chance to talk with Levis one time. Dude was awesome and never gave me vibes of arrogance. I can get behind Brady James' OP.

 

[irishcat1965]

In society today, there is a tendency to pile on. Every little thing with regard to Will was dissected and last night ESPN seemed filled with glee to keep showing he and his family. Ironically there were three others invited who were not picked and I don’t remember them getting one second of air time as they sat there waiting. Hopefully this fuels his fire and he comes out motivated. Being a parent myself, I can’t imagine the agony his parents went through feeling terrible for their son.

 

[K_TIME]

That’s not true. If it’s a severe injury or doesn’t heal as expected, then turf toe can require surgery.

Sure there are grades that could be more serious and surgery is an option....that isn't the norm at all for turf toe.

Most importantly at his pro day, etc...there were no lingering effects in the way he moved. He ran fine, he pushed off the foot just fine the ball exploded out of his arm. It is a BS story just like the "arrogance" story to create a narrative.

I'll repeat...I'm not going to argue on Young and Stroud as much (even though they both have legit questions) but AR15 is an absolute joke of a pick that high on all counts. Will outplayed him head to head, in the same side of SEC slate and just about every conceivable metric outside of rushing stats (to which the NFL isn't run the QB ball league) too much.

 

[Hjack]

What is it like working with Will Levis? Easier than any other athlete we have dealt with in this capacity. He was the most professional of any athlete we have dealt with including names like Ric Flair, Kevin Byard, Etc.

I sat with him once and watched him probably take a hundred pictures with kids without even a hint of frustration in the middle of a sporting event he was there to watch.

Once I asked him to tape a KSR commercial for us that wasn’t in our agreement. He did it within the week. Another time I had come to Lexington to support Will during a commercial release. Once he realized I was there he text and asked me to come back to his waiting room and just talk life. He didn’t have to do that obviously. May not seem like much but it’s a gesture of kindness when you don’t have to be and nobody is looking.

He was humble, kind and appreciative to all fans when cameras weren’t rolling we interacted with him. It wasn’t an act. It was the same each time we were around him.

Just wanted to share some actual interactions with him behind closed doors or in a business situation. Rather than Twitter trolls or Reddit imaginary stories about him. He’s legit as they get when it comes to being a professional.

Grand Slam Collectibles.

Great to hear, and not at all surprising.

 

[Greezy Kreek]

Was expecting to read an expose when I seen this thread. Good to hear from a known entity and hear great things about him.

If some nfl team office nerd cost my team a top notch pick b/c of their metric or cocky attitude claims etc. I’d let the fellas give him a twirlie and atomic balm his sack.

Class act Brady James,….

 

[specialkd24_rivals116121]

Hopefully he just ends up with the right team. In a few years, who cares about where he was picked. If he is good, he will make that money back and then some.

I'm going to be a fan of whatever team picks him.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

He's not really a QB. So even if he doesn't work out as a career backup, he'll be a great fullback. A top 3 one for a team. A win win for drafting him, he should go somewhere between 85-120 pick but some GM will take a chance on him thinking he can be a starter one day down the line.

You're nuts. Are your initials TS by chance? You loved, LOVED the AR15 pick i bet.

 

[Johnfarrel]

That’s not true. If it’s a severe injury or doesn’t heal as expected, then turf toe can require surgery.

A toe injury ended Dizzy Dean's baseball career back in the day. It threw off his pitching motion and caused an arm injury. Same thing could happen to a QB.

 

[oldsports_]

I had lunch with Will. He was professional as they get.

 

[plumdog69]

What is it like working with Will Levis? Easier than any other athlete we have dealt with in this capacity. He was the most professional of any athlete we have dealt with including names like Ric Flair, Kevin Byard, Etc.

I sat with him once and watched him probably take a hundred pictures with kids without even a hint of frustration in the middle of a sporting event he was there to watch.

Once I asked him to tape a KSR commercial for us that wasn’t in our agreement. He did it within the week. Another time I had come to Lexington to support Will during a commercial release. Once he realized I was there he text and asked me to come back to his waiting room and just talk life. He didn’t have to do that obviously. May not seem like much but it’s a gesture of kindness when you don’t have to be and nobody is looking.

He was humble, kind and appreciative to all fans when cameras weren’t rolling we interacted with him. It wasn’t an act. It was the same each time we were around him.

Just wanted to share some actual interactions with him behind closed doors or in a business situation. Rather than Twitter trolls or Reddit imaginary stories about him. He’s legit as they get when it comes to being a professional.

Grand Slam Collectibles.

Great to hear!!!

 

[Shydog]

A toe injury ended Dizzy Dean's baseball career back in the day. It threw off his pitching motion and caused an arm injury. Same thing could happen to a QB.

Are you serious? maybe this is sarcasm, Dizzy Dean was before operating rooms man!

 

[Wildcats1st]

There are two types of arrogance.
Outward ******* cocky arrogance and inner arrogance.

I never have got the feeling from Levis that he was cocky or an *******. Although he exudes inner arrogance. You can tell he’s confident about himself and his abilities but outwardly is down to earth.

Honestly though this has nothing to do with his draft issues. The issues are two pronged. Scangarello screwed bbn and Levis. He tried to force Levis to be a pocket passer. Well action figures as someone once called Will they don’t belong standing in the pocket. Especially in the modern nfl. Scangarello tried to turn Levis into his buddy garrapolo and he screwed him big time. I mean this guy is the worst thing to happen to our program in a while. We had a historical season and the guy totally screwed us starting at ole miss. That’s a game we should have undoubtedly won and it’s the game he threw Levis to the dogs. We win that game if he lets will be will and that builds momentum for the season. Probably a NY6 bowl without that dude with bottle cap lenses who stood down on the field instead of the booth. Although it didn’t help coen left after 1 year with Levis and recommended Scangarello.

The second issue is this and it started in the same game. Injuries. Will was best to hell. It was a Tim couch Cleveland type pounding Levis took. Evidently he still has an injury. Teams are balking at him bc of one game where our oc killed our season and screwed our qb. He made Levis out to look like a scared qb who made some terrible decisions because of it. Levis had like -150 rush years s after 400 the year before. Where Levis was used to running the ball when the pocket collapsed now bc of Scangarello Levis didn’t even know when to throw the ball a way to save a sack. It’s like taking Lamar Jackson and tell him to stand there and just throw it. He would be awful. Well that’s what Scangarello did to Levis.

Stoops really let Levis down by allowing Scangarello to run carte blanche with his awful system.

 

[Johnfarrel]

Are you serious? maybe this is sarcasm, Dizzy Dean was before operating rooms man!

Nope. I'm not good at sarcasm. They had operating rooms. They were probably lit with coal oil lamps like my house. The point is a minor injury, if not attended to, can lead to serious consequences. Ole Diz probably did not even let the trainer put Wadkins horse liniment on it and didn’t miss a day in the rotation, but it ended his career.

 

[Ryan Lemonds Hair]

I wonder how much the Tim Tebow failure at QB might have played into it. They have similar builds and play similar styles as far as using their size to an advantage. Maybe some teams thought if Tebow couldn't make it as a QB in the NFL when he was more accurate than Will that there was a good chance Levis can't make it either.

 

[Shydog]

I wonder how much the Tim Tebow failure at QB might have played into it. They have similar builds and play similar styles as far as using their size to an advantage. Maybe some teams thought if Tebow couldn't make it as a QB in the NFL when he was more accurate than Will that there was a good chance Levis can't make it either.

Tim threw a wobbler with a windup! Levis has a super quick throw that he only comes back to about his ear. In our stadium I haven't seen the ball come out of a QBs hand like it does Levis ever unless it was M Stafford. Even Lorenzon had somewhat of a windup. Tebow was a great college FB player because he won, in fact lead a great bunch of talented players to wins. We will never know what Levis might have accomplished with a bunch like TT had to play with but in the NFL, we will see. Maybe not for a few years but before long!

 

[kyleb740]

I just take it all as UK is a football school now and people want to bash UK and Levis cause we are actually winning games. Florida, Louisville, Missouri, South Carolina fans are really vocal about how bad Levis is despite him going 7-0 against those teams these last 2 years.

I would have loved to see what AR would have done with a foot injury that limited his only plus attribute (running). His already historically low completion percentage for a 1st round draft pick would have been in the 40% range.

 

[will93]

Turf toe doesn't need surgery....another total BS story. Time heals it fine.

It can. I'm a podiatrist and there are varying levels of a turf toe injury

 

[CondorCat]

Are you serious? maybe this is sarcasm, Dizzy Dean was before operating rooms man!

Dizzy Dean got beaned in the 1937 All Star Game. His famous comment: "The doctors x-rayed my head and found nothing."

 

[StubbornPenny]

He's not really a QB. So even if he doesn't work out as a career backup, he'll be a great fullback. A top 3 one for a team. A win win for drafting him, he should go somewhere between 85-120 pick but some GM will take a chance on him thinking he can be a starter one day down the line.

This comment gave me diarrhea from how stupid it is. Fullback. Wow.

 

[TheBlueCat]

he'll be a great fullback.

 

[numberonedad]

He's not really a QB. So even if he doesn't work out as a career backup, he'll be a great fullback. A top 3 one for a team. A win win for drafting him, he should go somewhere between 85-120 pick but some GM will take a chance on him thinking he can be a starter one day down the line.

Jesus, what a terrible, horrible take

 

[Blue Bigfoot]

1. Will is rumored to be arrogant....but in the same breath they praise AR15 for saying "I'll be in the hall of fame" and if you don't expect to be great I don't want that in my QB. So, which way is it?
2. Will played the year on a bad wheel when he could have shut it down....but he grinded it out. I was at the ice cold UGA game....he comes out sleeveless, throws a really solid game (and he played UGA D twice and performed fine both times). Will was hyping up the team and a leader.

TIme will tell on
- Young is fantastic in college....but there has never been a QB that small that was pro bowl QB
- Stroud....has huge questions of why Ohio St QBs fail to translate to pros
- AR15....I just laugh at McShay raving on him. The kid was a bust in college and never had success at Florida in the same two years Levis played. Florida finished 6-7 the two years he played....I am stunned nobody is looking at him thru win totals and it wasn't like UF D was giving up 40pts and the offense was fine. THe offense was more problematic than the D IMO. And Florida fans comment AR15 wasn't the best lockeroom guy.

So Will hopefully lands in a cleaner spot (I am hoping Lions) that he can win faster than a long rebuild.

I suspect someone might be fired in a few years over the Young and AR picks.
While Young is talented, he will not have the overwhelming talent in front of him relative to the talent on the other side of the line that he enjoyed in college. AR 15 as NFL QB, no just no. I don't think being that wildly inaccurate with a ball is something he can grow out of.

 

[The-Hack]

Jesus, what a terrible, horrible take

There are posts that put the “uuuuuuu” in “stupid!

 

[The-Hack]

I suspect someone might be fired in a few years over the Young and AR picks.
While Young is talented, he will not have the overwhelming talent in front of him relative to the talent on the other side of the line. AR 15 as NFL QB, no just no. I don't think being that wildly inaccurate with a ball is something he can grow out of.

Head and Shoulders Shampoo has a new contract with the Colts.

The most head-scratching pick in a looong time!