Will Levis shows true colours as he breaks silence on NFL Draft slide

02 May 2023 , 11:01

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Will Levis was the No.33 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, being selected by the Tennessee Titans (Image: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Will Levis had a tough night last Thursday after he was left on the board heading into the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft despite being predicted to be a potential top-ten pick.

The 23-year-old quarterback was a regular on TV coverage as the night went on, and the nerves were evident as each pick passed him by. Luckily, he was surrounded by his nearest and dearest, including influencer girlfriend Gia Duddy.

Levis’ fortunes were better the following night, however, as he was the second overall pick for the second round of the draft, being selected by the Tennessee Titans. And the former Kentucky ace is keen to not let his first-round snub get in the way of him forging a successful career as an NFL quarterback.

Levis insists: "It's not going to change my work ethic, regardless if I went first overall or 33rd. I can't let the circumstances dictate my work ethic. I ended up where I was meant to be, and I'm just looking forward to competing and getting started."

Levis found out who his new team was going to be just as he got home from Kansas City, the home of the 2023 NFL Draft, after leaving early following Thursday’s snub. His flight on Friday was delayed three hours and a two-hour drive home from the airport in Newark, New Jersey, saw him walk through the door as his name was called.

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Will Levis cut a nervous figure after being left on the board after the first round (Getty)

"He had just walked in his home from traveling back from Kansas City," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of the team's call to Levis. “I literally walked through the door as my name got called," Levis said of the moment. "I got the call and it just all happened bang, bang, bang!"

Levis wasn’t the only player the Titans picked up last week. They had seven picks overall, with their first-rounder at No.11 going on Peter Skoronski of Northwestern. Tyjae Spears, Josh Whyle, Jaelyn Duncan and Colton Dowell joined in the rounds following Levis’ No.33 pick.

The Titans will be hoping that Levis and Co will be able to help them compete for a postseason spot this year. Last season, Tennessee finished second in the AFC South, with the Jacksonville Jaguars storming away in top spot.

Joshua Mbu