Mojo Player Spotlight: Will Levis, QB, University of Kentucky

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One of the nice things about Mojo is the ability to look long term. And that doesn’t just mean investing in a young draft pick and getting his NFL future — it also means players who aren’t even in the league yet. After an underwhelming QB draft class in 2022, next year’s crop of incoming rookie quarterbacks is much more inspiring, and one of the top names on that list currently plies his trade for the University of Kentucky.

In his second year in Lexington, Levis has led the Cats to a 5-2 record (he missed one of the losses with a foot injury) and a ranking that climbed as high as No. 7 a few weeks ago and now sits at 19^th in the AP poll. Levis might have first gotten famous (and gone viral) for his banana peel-eating, mayonnaise-in-his-coffee quirks, but he’s likely to be a first-round pick in next year’s draft, and that could warrant an investment.

Will Levis History

Levis played his first two college seasons with Penn State (with only two starts in two seasons). Levis transferred to Kentucky before the 2021 season. He led the team to a 10-3 record in 2021 (only the team’s second 10-win season since 1977), including a Citrus Bowl win over Iowa, the team’s fourth-straight bowl win. 

Levis opened up on Mojo in February at $18.47. He’s stayed in the $18 range ever since, falling as low as $18.12 in the spring and climbing as high as $18.60 earlier this week. As of this writing, he’s at $18.59, per Mojo. That’s the 45^th-highest price of all quarterbacks (college or pro), just behind Houston Texans starter Davis Mills and just ahead of Cleveland Browns starter-for-now Jacoby Brissett. In other words, whether this is a good price for Levis mostly depends on whether he’s going to be an NFL starter — if he is, this is a bargain.

Going Forward

So, is Will Levis an NFL starter? He checks a lot of boxes. He’s mobile, which is increasingly becoming non-optional in today’s NFL. That includes 9 rushing touchdowns in Kentucky’s big 2021 season. There aren’t any areas of the field where he can’t make throws. He has the big, strong, athletic traits that let him somewhat resemble Josh Allen — it’s not fair to compare any college quarterback to the Bills’ superstar, so let’s just say Levis is a “some assembly required” stater kit.

ESPN’s team of draft analysts (Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Jordan Reid, Matt Miller) are all high on Levis, with McShay and Miller having him as the QB3 in this draft class, Reid fourth, and Kiper having him second behind only Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. In other words, in what is perceived as a much better draft class than last year’s disappointment, Levis is a don’t-implode-down-the-stretch away from being a pretty clear first-round pick, even if he isn’t necessarily a top-five selection. Stroud’s current Mojo price is $31.63. Reigning Heisman champion Bryce Young — the other consensus top-three QB in the draft class — is $33.01.

Levis, again, is $18.59. Sam Darnold ($20.03) is more expensive. So is Tyrod Taylor ($20.90) – and Case Keenum ($22.75), Nick Foles ($25.63) and Baker Mayfield ($27.66). 

Summary

There’s only one real question for Levis: Is he an NFL starter? If he is, investing now is a slam dunk. Obviously, we don’t know the future, but given his profile, his scouting reports, and his pedigree with only a handful of games to go before he enters the draft, the league sure seems to believe he will be as well. Someone with Levis’ upside at his price — especially compared to his peers in his draft class — is a no-brainer investment.