Will Levis: What to know about Tennessee Titans rookie QB in second NFL start vs Steelers

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis will make his second career NFL start on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Levis stunned the league with his four-touchdown debut in his first career start against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, a 28-23 Titans victory. Ryan Tannehill remains out for Thursday's game against the Steelers, and Levis will start again.

It has been a lengthy journey for the Connecticut native who had to transfer from the Big Ten to the SEC to find the right opportunity.

Here’s what to know about Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis:

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New England to Penn State

Levis was born in Massachusetts and grew up in Connecticut, attending Xavier High School in Middletown. A member of the Class of 2018, he set school passing records at Xavier. Levis was a three-star recruit, ranked as the No. 25 pro-style quarterback by 247Sports and committed to Penn State over offers from Iowa, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Cincinnati.

Levis redshirted in 2018 and earned the No. 2 job behind Sean Clifford in 2019. Levis made his first career start in the 2019 regular-season finale against Rutgers, rushing for 108 yards and throwing for a touchdown in the victory. Levis featured in six games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season as a change-of-pace running quarterback when Clifford struggled.

Even then, Levis’ path to be a starter wasn't clear. He also sought an opportunity to be more than a run-first quarterback.

Kentucky football star in 2021

Levis transferred from Penn State to Kentucky after the 2020 season, with Clifford fully entrenched for two more seasons in State College.

Levis was the guy at quarterback from the start of 2021 preseason practice in Lexington. The Wildcats' offense and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen still leaned on running back Chris Rodriguez, and Levis did throw at least one interception in the first five games. But he was a clear upgrade from three previous seasons of a woeful passing game as Kentucky started the season 6-0. Levis threw for three touchdowns and ran for two scores in a blowout win against LSU, showing off his rushing ability.

A three-game losing streak followed, and Levis’ three interceptions contributed to the loss at Mississippi State. He also threw a critical interception that was returned for a touchdown in a 45-42 loss to Tennessee.

The Wildcats finished the season with four wins in a row as Levis appeared to find some consistency. He put a bow on his season by leading Kentucky on a game-winning drive in the Citrus Bowl against stingy Iowa, the highlight play being a nice touch pass to Wan’Dale Robinson for 52 yards to set up first-and-goal.

Fair or not, Levis’ excellent finish to the 2021 season served as a turbo boost for his public perception the next year.

More expectations on Will Levis, Kentucky in 2022

Levis, who was talked about as a potential first-round pick, and Kentucky, which was ranked in the preseason, had high expectations. New offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s offense came from the NFL and wasn’t expected to be much of a change from Coen's (who took the offensive coordinator job with the LA Rams).

Kentucky beat Florida in Gainesville, and Levis had a highlight-reel 55-yard touchdown pass to Dane Key. The Wildcats vaulted into the top 10 and finished September 4-0.

But there were signs of trouble. Levis’ rushing ability was rendered moot by the new offense, and an offensive line that was giving up pressures and sacks at an alarming rate. The 22-19 loss to Ole Miss on Oct. 1 was decided on a strip-sack of Levis in the red zone in the final minute, moments after a procedure penalty wiped away a Levis go-ahead touchdown pass.

Levis injured his toe in that game, and he was up and down the rest of the season — he completed 74% of his passes in a win over No. 16 Mississippi State; he threw three interceptions in his worst collegiate performance at Tennessee; threw three touchdowns in a win at Missouri, then had 109 passing yards in a home loss to Vanderbilt.

Though many of Levis’ efficiency statistics were slightly up compared to 2021, his rushing total went from 376 yards and nine touchdowns to minus-107 yards and two touchdowns. Kentucky finished 7-5, and a banged-up Levis opted out of the bowl game.

Titans trade up to select Will Levis in the 2023 NFL Draft

Levis was considered among the group of four quarterbacks that were potential first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, and a number of draft experts expected all four to be selected in the top 15. Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson were the others, and they were among the first four picks on April 27.

But Levis had to wait. After he went undrafted on Day 1, he left Kansas City, where the draft was held. On Day 2, the Titans traded up from No. 41 overall to No. 33, sending a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 third-rounder to Arizona, and selected Levis.

Missed NFL preseason time and opportunity

Levis and Malik Willis, the 2022 third-round pick, battled to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Tannehill through the preseason. Willis won the job, in part because Levis missed time following the first preseason game because of a leg injury.

Levis served as the No. 3 quarterback for the first six regular-season games. Willis stepped in for an injured Tannehill in London against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 15 and struggled, much as he did in three starts in 2022. The door was reopened for Levis to pass Willis on the depth chart and stake his claim as the franchise's quarterback of the future.

Stunning NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons

Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said what many Titans fans were saying or thinking during Levis' first start.

"That damn Will Levis, man," Simmons said to his teammates in a sound bite caught by NFL Films following one of Levis' long touchdown passes.

Levis threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns, three of which were caught by DeAndre Hopkins, in the 28-23 win over the NFC South leaders. The three scores were Hopkins' first as a Titans receiver, and Levis doubled Tannehill's 2023 TD total in one game.

Several of Levis' teammates talked about his confidence, energy and swagger.

“Confidence sometimes can be contagious in the right environment, and I feel like that's what was going on Sunday," receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who caught the fourth touchdown on Sunday, said earlier this week.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Will Levis: What to know of Tennessee Titans rookie QB in 2nd start