On January 10th, it was officially announced that Liam Coen would be back in Lexington for his second go-around as Kentucky football’s offensive coordinator.
Since then, Coen has expressed his excitement to get back to Lexington and talked about some things that will be different from his last stint as UK’s OC. One big difference in particular, is a new guy under-center from the transfer portal.
Devin Leary will be taking snaps as the starting quarterback for Kentucky next season. He comes to Kentucky with a vast amount of experience and success as a division I starting QB. This is contrary to Will Levis who came in to lead Kentucky’s offense during Coen’s first season with the program. Levis came to Kentucky as a former back-up quarterback at Penn State. He only had a handful of starts under his belt and was mainly utilized as Penn State’s running QB.
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Despite their obviously different circumstances entering the program, Coach Coen believes these guys have very important similarities.
Similarities
Coach Coen talks about the biggest similarities between the two quarterbacks have mostly to do with their character and leadership abilities.
“The leadership capabilities as a quarterback, I feel like at Kentucky specifically, you have to have a little bit different moxy in your neck. You know, you just have to have something a little bit different to you,” he explained on KSR.
Coen went on to talk about the incomer, Leary, “He’s a South Jersey kid that has a ton of swagger that was named a captain and early on in his career at NC State. He’s a type of kid that can get along with with all different walks of life. He’s just a leader. He’s got that kind of that it factor that you look for in a personality.”
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As we know from his time in Lexington, Will Levis possessed many of those same qualities. Levis quickly became a fan favorite because of his intangibles. His toughness and persistence helped him to develop into a top NFL prospect during his time at Kentucky.
Differences
While these guys share similarities in regard to leadership ability, their level of prior production and physical make-up is very different from one another. Devin Leary enters Kentucky’s offense with a padded stat book of productive offensive numbers. Two seasons ago, Leary put up an astounding 35-to-5 touchdown to interception ratio. Because of this, he was picked as the ACC Pre-season Player of the Year going into 2022.
Leary, unfortunately, suffered a season-ending injury that sidelined him for 2022. Two of his three years as a starter at NC State were cut short due to season-ending injuries. Regardless, he has been able to accumulate 6,807 passing yards and 62 touchdowns in his collegiate career.
Will Levis’ production at Penn State was a different scenario. As we saw in the last two seasons, Will brings intense physicality and speed on the ground that can be a difference-maker.
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Liam Coen states, “Will is built differently, I mean, he’s built just like Thor. He could endure so many hits and play the game so physically. You had to try to kind of reel him in from taking hits and being physical, but really it was part of what made him great. Will was an extremely violent thrower of the football as well. He would throw a comeback at 25 yards on an absolute rope. He would throw a dig cut like that. I mean, he can throw the ball 70 yards.”
Devin Leary’s play will look a little different. Coach Coen explains how Leary’s high IQ and patience in the pocket will allow him to extend plays and “make something out of nothing” in some situations.
“Now, Devin is not as big, not built quite the same. He has some athleticism, but it’s more so within the pocket where he can expand plays, extend plays, do some different things with his legs that way. But he’s also an extremely accurate and also powerful thrower of the football. The ball jumps off his hand like you saw, some of the things we were excited about what Will.
“I think Devin’s been in a more pass-happy or pass-friendly offense and the experiences that he’s had are a little bit different than Will. Will was a running quarterback at Penn State. We gave him an opportunity to throw the football and maybe not as much as Devin has, but that’s just different experiences that I think will help him when he does come here and tries to be a little bit more of a pro-style offense.”
A unanimous 4-star prospect and top 20 safety nationally, Carter chose the Cats over finalists Auburn Tigers, Colorado Buffalo, and Louisville. He also held offers from some of the biggest programs in the sport, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Oregon among others.
Originally from Chattanooga, TN, Carter moved to Paducah last summer where he starred for Paducah Tilghman High School, helping them to an undefeated regular season and a deep run in the 4A state playoffs, falling in the semifinals.
While it’s okay to celebrate his commitment, it will still be a battle until signing day. Auburn is seen as Kentucky’s biggest threat with Carter planning multiple visits, and he also has a family connection to Deion Sander’s Colorado program.
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That said, he will almost certainly take an official visit to Kentucky this fall. Vince Marrow has made Carter a priority of this class and will do everything in his power to retain the talented defensive back.
Carter makes the sixth commitment for Kentucky’s 2025 class, to go along with two talented offensive players and fellow four-star recruits Quintin Simmons Jr (WR) and Marquise Davis (RB).
On the eve of a huge recruiting weekend for Kentucky football, the program has received some bad news. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen is leaving for the NFL again, this time taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator position.
The #Buccaneers are working on a deal to hire Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator, sources tell me and @RapSheet. After bouncing between the #Rams and Kentucky the last six years, Coen likely heads to Tampa for a possible reunion with pending free agent Baker Mayfield. pic.twitter.com/ijwtJel2RE— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 2, 2024
When Coen returned to Kentucky last offseason from the Los Angeles Rams, for his second stint as offensive coordinator, he talked about Lexington being a place that he and his wife had missed. In his return press conference, on January 12, 2023, he went as far as saying he wanted to be somewhere for a “few years”, at least.
“I want to go somewhere, make a real impact. Plant some roots for a little bit. Be somewhere for a few years — at least — that you feel really good about. I’m excited about being back in Lexington… I’m not in a rush to go anywhere.”
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That “few years” was just a year, but to be honest, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. After many games last season, Coen talked to the media with frustration about fundamental things such as lack of discipline and dropped passes. Even then, it always felt he was holding his words back. With his name circulating around multiple NFL jobs, it was clear this was the direction it was heading.
Now for Kentucky, it’s about getting the next hire right. In a time where offense is becoming the premium in college football, going through five offensive coordinators in ten seasons is not ideal. Paying $1.8 million to Coen, they have shown they will pay amongst the top in the country. Now, go get someone who keeps this core of offensive talent, can recruit, and brings much-needed consistency.
During last year’s NFL Draft, Will Levis was one of the last players left in the green room after dropping to the second round. That moment fueled Levis, and he’s since earned the starting quarterback spot with the Tennessee Titans, appearing to have a bright future with the team.
Entering the season with no shortage of motivation, Levis entered the franchise as QB3 and wasn’t even on the active roster for the first six weeks of the season, being deemed the “emergency quarterback.” However, following an ankle injury to Ryan Tannehill in Week 6, the Titans gave their rookie quarterback an opportunity.
Levis certainly capitalized and had one of the best debuts in NFL History, throwing for 238 yards (19/29 passing) and four touchdowns. From the game, Levis has been put in the Hall of Fame. Well, at least his Houston Oiler throwback helmet from the performance has been placed on display in the Hall of Fame’s “Pro Football Today Gallery.”
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🗣️ New to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Oilers-styled helmet that @Titans QB Will Levis wore in Week 8, when he became only the third player in NFL history to throw four TD passes in his NFL debut.
Levis started his career with a bang and had his moments. The former Kentucky Wildcat will look to build on his rookie campaign, going into a year where he should be the starter under new head coach Brian Callahan.
