New development:Will Levis’ message to Vols fans: ‘Don’t switch up now

The day the Tennessee Titans traded up in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, it fractured the fanbase because a large number of Titans fans also happen to be fans of the homestate Volunteers.

After a surprise rookie season that has seen him win the job as Titans starting quarterback, Levis had a message for those same fans who either didn’t like him because he played for the archrival Wildcats or didn’t believe in him.

If you’re a Vol fan and you don’t like me simply because you’re a Vol fan, you better stay on that hill. Don’t change, don’t switch up now,” Levis said. “But I’m open to all fans of the Titans with open arms, and, hopefully, at least since I’ve been drafted, I’ve been able to change some people’s opinions.

Playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL this season and limited offensive weapons, Levis has completed 58.4% of his passes for 1,808 yards and eight touchdowns against four interceptions over nine games, going 3-6 as a starter before being sidelined with a high ankle sprain.

In his debut on Monday Night Football trailing 27-13 late in the fourth quarter, Levis engineered a pair of touchdown drives over the final three minutes to give the Titans a historic 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 11.

Prior to that, NFL teams were 0-767 since 2016 in games trailing by 14 points with under three minutes to play. With the win, the Titans also became the first team in NFL history to be down 14 points with less than 2:55 left and win without the benefit of overtime. Tennessee also came into the game as 14-point underdogs.

In his first appearance on Monday Night Football, Levis bounced back from throwing an early pick-6 and completed 23 of 38 passes for 327 yards and a score, the first 300-yard passing game of his brief NFL career and the most-ever by a rookie quarterback on Monday Night Football.