Will Levis prepares to throw at NFL Combine, but Dan Orlovsky says 'The talent doesn't match the tape'
Will Levis is expected to throw on Saturday at the NFL Combine on Saturday, and for ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, there’s plenty to prove.
The former Kentucky quarterback is trying to prove that his raw talent can translate to the NFL after he was on a team that struggled last season, and barely made it over .500 for the year.
Levis has the frame and arm strength to put him near the top of the QB class, but he also transferred from Penn State, and to some NFL scouts and analysts, is not as polished as Bryce Young or CJ Stroud.
“The talent that Coach (Mark) Stoops is stalking about, it doesn’t match the tape,” Orlovsky said. “And you have to find the reason of, the offensive line is awful, and their receivers, there’s more plays when they’re not open than when they’re open. Because there are times when you go, ‘Well, there’s that talent that’s making him in this top 5 conversation.'”
While Orlovsky said Levis is similar in some ways to Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, he said general managers and quarterback coaches have a right to ask what went wrong on so many plays at UK.
“I want to hear him tell me what his thought process was,” Levis said.
These next few days are most important to Will Levis
The talent is real—the tape often doesn’t match.
Why?
But the talent is real. #NFLLIVE #NFLScoutingCombine #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/uHOFhYRqfl
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 2, 2023
Why is Coach Stoops stalking?
I get both sides of the Will Levis argument. I think it’s absolutely fair for scouts to want to see him throw and I’m sure he’s been asked some tough questions. You don’t see a guy who goes 7-5 in his last season potentially crack the top 10 on draft day. On the other hand, he had guys in the backfield all season and he was playing hurt from the Ole Miss game forward. Selfishly, I think he’s going to help the Cats finally gain some traction within HS recruiting for this position. For Levis, given what I saw him play through last year and tough it out through the Louisville game, I hope he succeeds at the next level. He matured between year one and year two and managed the locker well. I can imagine how frustrating it must be to have your o line pick you up off the ground time after time after missing assignments…
*locker room