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CFB analyst says Will Levis could have ‘Joe Burrow effect’ on Kentucky
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
It’s only 1 week into the season, but Kentucky quarterback Will Levis appears as if he could be the real deal for the Wildcats.
The Penn State transfer had immediate success in his new team’s season opener against UL Monroe on Saturday, going 18-for-26 for 367 yards and 4 touchdowns. That was despite his first pass in a Kentucky uniform ending up in the hands of a Warhawks defender.
Wildcats fans haven’t seen everything Levis can do, as he didn’t get to showcase his dual-threat tendencies partially due to Chris Rodriguez being at the helm of the running game. But what he displayed on Saturday caught the eye of Tim Brando, who recalled the path of another former Big Ten backup-turned-SEC starter on Monday.
Love this kid! Saw him as a backup to Clifford @PennStateFball he has a chance to dare I say have a Burrow affect on @UKFootball an incredibly gifted athlete that’s only needed reps to get better. I’ve got the Wildcats finishing 2nd in the @SEC East. https://t.co/4Kevn4LdqJ
— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) September 6, 2021
Now, Brando obviously isn’t saying that Levis will match Joe Burrow’s legendary 2019 season. But Burrow eventually found his place with LSU after failing to land a starting role at Ohio State, and the rest is history.
And Levis has some offensive weapons of his own, including Rodriguez and Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson. We’ll see if it’s enough to make Brando’s prediction come true.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.