Will Levis is set to make his NFL debut as the Tennessee Titans will play the rookie quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed starter Ryan Tannehill is nursing an ankle injury and could miss the clash with the Falcons in Week 8. He also suggested both Levis and Malik Willis would likely play if Tannehill is out.
His stance over Levis is particularly interesting given there was no evidence the rookie - selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft - had moved ahead of Willis in the depth chart. Willis was a third-round pick in 2022, and he has appeared in two games this year in relief of Tannehill, tallying 74 passing yards against the Baltimore Ravens in London.
Levis is expected to get the start this weekend, and he received plenty of plaudits during the draft process earlier this year. The former Kentucky signal-caller was reportedly viewed by many as a top-five pick before his stunning slide.
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The 24-year-old boasts plenty of the traits that every scout dreams to find in a prospect, showcasing his arm power, accuracy and ability to make plays with his legs. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Levis' game was frequently compared to Buffalo Bills starting quarterback Josh Allen.
However, it was his off-field antics that truly placed Levis in the headlines. During his breakout season of 2021 for the Wildcats, Levis garnered plenty of attention on social media thanks to his bizarre eating and drinking habits.
In one particular video, Levis is eating a banana — with the skin on — to hundreds of viewers' disgust. Just a few months later, Levis was filmed as he put mayonnaise in his coffee and he confirmed it was something he did regularly.
Ahead of the 2023 NFL season, Levis signed a lifetime sponsorship deal with Hellman's Mayonnaise. In a recent interview with USA Today, Levis explained how the viral videos brought him to the attention of the higher-ups at Hellman’s.
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AP)“That video went viral, and I raised some eyebrows from that,” Levis said. “From there, mayonnaise has been irreplaceable with me and my brand. Must have caught the eye of the people over at Hellmann's and it's turned into this which is pretty cool.”
Levis first tried mayonnaise in coffee while with his girlfriend at a restaurant. There was no cream or sugar on their table, so his girlfriend "playfully suggested" using the condiment - and he has stuck to it since.
Levis put together an impressive season in his first year in Kentucky, having been coached by Liam Coen in an NFL-style offense the coach went on to use the same playbook to lead the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. Suitably impressed, the Titans then traded up to select Levis with the No. 33 overall pick earlier this year.
Titans fans will hope Levis can hit the ground running when he takes to the field in the NFL for the first time against the 4-2 Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 29.