Titans' Will Levis details how he stayed 'sane' during draft-day slide

Being selected 33rd overall wasn't what quarterback Will Levis envisioned on draft night, but the 24-year-old believes Tennessee is where he is meant to be.

Levis, who played at Penn State and Kentucky, was projected to go as high as the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and was invited to attend the event. However, he notably fell out of the first round, and thanks to the media coverage, all eyes were focused on his draft slide. 

Each year, there's an instance where a player falls down the draft board and is put under the microscope of the broadcast's viewers, which would be stressful for anyone in that position. However, during a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Levis admitted that being in an uncontrollable situation helped him keep his sanity as he watched teams pass him up.

"There was nothing I could do about it. That was at least what kept me a little sane," Levis said. "I knew there’s nothing in my power that I can do to change my position while you’re back there sitting around. It is what it is.

"But, I mean, at the very least, I wish that the airtime I stole on TV, I think could have been used a little bit more efficiently for the guys that did get picked and are able to have those big moments for themselves," Levis added.

While Levis' draft slide was a major storyline during the TV coverage of the first round, his sister, Kelley, and girlfriend, Gia Duddy, were the ones who really captured the limelight due to their looks. The two went viral more than Levis did, with Duddy doubling her social media followers count on draft night, which led to her earning a deal with Burger King.

That type of attention might not be the easiest to manage, but Levis told Fox News Digital that he is "proud" of the way they handled it. 

"The internet is always going to internet," Levis said. "And I think I’ve known that just from playing sports and having a lot of attention that came from that. But for my sisters and my girlfriend, ... they kind of got that side of it or that feel for that side of things on the internet a little bit for the first time. It’s eye-opening for them, and I was proud of how they handled it."

Perhaps falling to the second round will be a blessing in disguise for Levis since expectations aren't nearly as high without that first-round status. Plus, it clearly hasn't prevented him from landing sponsorships, as he recently received a lifetime supply of Hellmann's mayonnaise after his bizarre eating habits involving the condiment went viral.  

Tennessee is easing Levis into the NFL and the signal-caller is actively competing for the Titans' backup quarterback job. He made his professional debut in the preseason opener against the Bears, where he completed 9-of-14 passes for 85 yards while throwing one interception.

Due to a lower-body injury, Levis missed this past Saturday's game against the Vikings but is "aiming" to play in Friday's preseason finale when the Titans host the Patriots.

With a strong performance, Levis could convince Tennessee he should be the next man up in case starter Ryan Tannehill ever goes down.