Will Levis anxiously awaits his NFL Draft call-up, as expected, the first round top five is hugged by his mom in the green room…but he gets rejected and goes to round 2 instead!
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis had an agonizing night during the 2023 NFL Draft after being expected to finish in the top five and then the phone never rang.
The 23-year-old was part of the 17-member cohort on Thursday night in Kansas City, Missouri, and he was joined by his loved ones in the green room.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was taken first by the Carolina Panthers, while CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson were selected in the top four.
Cameras nervously panned to Levis, waiting to find out which NFL team wants him, but it didn’t arrive.
At one point, his mother hugged him for support as he anxiously waited.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis waits nervously by his phone at Thursday night’s NFL Draft
Levis pictured on the red carpet during the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, Missouri
The 23-year-old, joined by his girlfriend Gia Duddy, was expected to be a top-five pick
Quarterbacks were back in fashion in Round 1 of the NFL Draft – except for Levis and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker.
Three of the first four selections were quarterbacks per year after only one QB was drafted in the first round and the third passer was only picked at the 86th overall pick in round 3.
Carolina made Young the top pick and Houston chose Ohio State’s Stroud over Levis and the Colts bypassed Levis for Florida QB Anthony Richardson Jr.
Hooker will be coming out of a torn ACL in November, so slipping into Day 2 was just a mild surprise for the 25-year-old passerby who this spring worried about his health, age and style of play just not enough to go into the first round .
Levis, who was accompanied by his girlfriend Gia Duddy on the couch, sat uneasily, sometimes squirming under the watchful eyes of millions of television viewers after several fake cartoonists projected that he would follow Young onto the stage to pose with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Levis and Duddy have been dating since 2021 and the latter shares beloved snaps and photos of her cheering him on in college on Instagram.
He will be the best available player on the board when rounds 2 and 3 begin later today. The last four rounds will take place on Saturday.