New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Levis lifts Kentucky to victory over LSU
Xavier grad at helm for unbeaten Wildcats
After passing for just 187 yards over two games, Xavier High graduate and Kentucky quarterback Will Levis got a pep talk from offensive coordinator Liam Coen in the days leading up to a matchup with LSU.
“The whole theme for him all week was, just, calm down,” Coen told reporters after Kentucky’s 42-21 victory Saturday night. “Slow down. Slow it all down. Slow your feet down, slow your mind down.”
The approach paid off — Levis, a transfer from Penn
State, managed the Kentucky offense in what turned out to be a significant win. The Wildcats are 6-0 for the first time since 1950, when Bear Bryant was head coach.
And the program’s rise can be attributed to a pair of New England native. Coen, in his first year at Kentucky after serving on the Los Angeles Rams’ staff, is a Rhode Island native who played quarterback at UMass. His offense at Kentucky has been productive all season, in no small part because Levis have been efficient.’
Levis, from Madison, was an All-State player at Xavier. He is 87 of 135 for 1,134 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, but struggled in wins over Florida and South Carolina.
Against LSU, he completed 14 of 17 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns.
“I really thought he played exceptionally well,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops told reporters after the game. “You could tell early on, just to me, his comfort level was there.
You know, he looked really poised, really confident and just going through his progression, making some really nice throws.
“Maybe the numbers aren’t overwhelming you, but I thought he was very clean and what Liam (Coen) has been working with him, being calm in the pocket, and you could see that, carrying over and you could see his confidence stepping up. Then the way he plays it on the line, and he runs so physical, that just gives everybody a great boost, as well. He’s a tough kid and just getting better and better.”
How did Coen’s advice translate against LSU?
“Just slowing down my footwork,” Levis said. “Especially last week when we were watching the film comparing practice to the game. When I got to the game and the bolts were flying a little bit, I just kind of really got antsy with my feet, and I just got to trust that the timing in practice as long as we are going full speed is going to be the same as timing in the game. Just slowing my footwork down and just trusting the progression, and I think I did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
Kentucky is rising in the national spotlight and Levis (6 foot 3, 232 pounds) will continue to play high-profile games, including this week against national title contender Georgia.
“It’s awesome, that’s why I came here,” Levis said about playing Georgia. “It’s why you come to the (SEC). Its stuff that you dream of when you make decisions like that. It’s one of the environments you think of when you think of SEC football, Sanford Stadium in Athens.
“Really excited to go down there and play the best team in the country. So we are going to have a good week at practice, and hopefully we are going to find some ways to get the ball moving and put some points on the board against them.”
Just Levis is gaining attention, Coen’s star is rising. The 35-year-old Coen, who played at La Salle Academy in Providence before starting at UMass, is considered a head coaching prospect — he’s been mentioned as candidate for UConn’s opening.
For now, he’s tutoring Levis as Kentucky rises in the rankings.
“I just thought he really managed the game well,” Coen said after the LSU win. “He was efficient … I thought he played really well.”