 This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. Plan on paying less for the coverage you need with Farm Bureau Health Plans. Get a quote today at FBHP.com. I'm Mike Keith, welcoming you to the Bette MGM Studio and a special OTP today as we welcome Titan's Rookie Quarterback Will Levis. Well thanks so much for joining us. Thanks for having me. So has any part of the entire last eight months, including the football season, gone as you would have expected it to back when you got drafted? No, I mean I tried not to have any expectations. You know I had a mindset of not letting the circumstances and you know whether a personal or a team or everything affected how I came into the building and worked every day. So you know there's always going to be those things that you can never expect and there's been a lot of those things happen but I feel like I've kept the right mindset to just be able to roll through them and come out you know on top. Here's something I wonder about quarterbacks, every one of them. When you get drafted, do you expect to come in and be the starter mentally? Yeah, I think you got to prepare that way regardless, it doesn't matter where you're drafted, I think you got to prepare as if you are the starter and you're going in there and doing whatever you can as a teammate to be ready for when your name is being called. Some guys it's a little more immediate and obvious if you know if you're a top ten pick or whatever but you know for me it was a little bit of a different situation because I was kind of right on that fringe of where I was picked but also with you know Ryan being here and someone who's won a lot of games for this team I knew that I was going to come in and just be the best teammate I could for him and everyone else but at the same time I prepare and be ready for when my name was called. You know one of the worst questions that's asked in these wrap up interviews is what part of the job of being an NFL quarterback have you learned now that you didn't know coming in? That's a terrible question, it's just cliche. So what part of the job of being an NFL quarterback did you learn during the course of this process that you didn't know? I would just say how much information is needed. I mean I'd like to think that I'm a good learner and that I'm able to hold a lot of information and I knew it was going to be an uptick from what I had to do in college but it far exceeded you know what I expected and I embraced it and I worked hard to make sure that I was able to go onto the field and have all the right things going on in my mind while at the same time simplifying it and not you know going too crazy. So it's a lot it's a lot it's the toughest job in sports I've got to say I'm obviously biased but it's been a blessing to be able to just learn and develop throughout this year. I would think part of the blessing is at Penn State and at Kentucky you go to school the whole time you're having to quarterback a team you play for some really good coaches and really good systems. You were about as ready as you could be though right? Yes I think everything that led up to my the beginning of my professional career in college helped me a lot and my time at Penn State to Kentucky was surrounded by a lot of great coaches a lot of great teammates that was able to you know cultivate me and make me into the player in person I am today and then on the football side too just especially there with that last couple years at Kentucky I definitely played in a type of offense where at least the stuff on us at the quarterback position was a little bit closer than I think that a lot of quarterbacks in college I had to what we do here in the NFL so that was really cool and I feel like that helped my transition a lot. You had six months from the time you were drafted till you started your first game when you were told after London that you were going to become the starter what did you have to shift in terms of how you did your day-to-day job? Yeah I think it's still something that I'm you know trying to tweak and understand next year my my routine is going to be a lot different than it was this year and it definitely was just taking an uptick in my preparation and I was preparing you know how I thought I needed to to be the starter if my name was called before then but I definitely went when that happened you know alright time to go like let's let's figure out a few things throughout the week that I can kind of add to my routine to just get me even that much more ready. Overall that Atlanta game couldn't have gone much better have you have you ever had a first start at any other level that went that well? No I mean that was one of those games where just like all things were clicking and everything in the game plan you know the shots that we were dialing it up they were there and the balls were there and the guys were in the right spots and they made the catches and when all that clicks it's a beautiful thing but you know that type of game we know that we're able to do that and we're still looking to kind of have a similar game to that in the past game so just trying to develop and hopefully have a good feeling about where we are as an offense going into next year have these last couple games. Well it was obvious that you checked yourself right after that game you knew every game wouldn't go that smoothly and you handled it that way. What in your training led you to know to do that or did somebody else help to kind of make sure that you did that? Yeah I think that there's been a lot of people throughout my athletic career that have helped me just with my mental and with my emotions especially I think when I was a younger and more immature player I would let bad things affect me I'd let good things affect me and you got to be able to keep in that neutral space that we talk about and you know I got to thank the coaches here in this building for being those guys for me right now and coach London coach Kelly and that we meet with every day in the quarterback room they do a good job on the sideline as well just making sure that I'm getting back to neutral and that I'm just taking every play as seriously and with the same mindset as the last. You talked about that in training camp some that you were working with forget how you said it like mental coaching that you after practice you would do some things to let the bad plays go because that was something you wanted to get better about leading into your pro career. Explain that and talk about what you've done with that mental sort of part of the game and the coaching and the training you get. I think it's just reaffirming with myself that you know bad things are going to happen and you turn on any game in the NFL bad things are going to happen you know best the best team in the league is going to have a three and out the best offense in the league is it's going to have turnovers and once you accept that and realize that it's just more about how you respond and how you're able to overcome those things you stop fretting about it so the more ball I watched the more I understand the game the more I realized how small a mistake is in the scheme of things and the more I just mature I think I'm able to be able to handle those situations and move on from them better. You have touched on your relationship with Charles London. What has he meant to you in terms of the development through the course of this year? He's meant a lot I mean he said I talked to him more than my mom and dad you know he's in here every day with us making sure that we're on our P's and Q's and we know it's expected of us at the quarterback position and I bet that's the very least he's getting us out there ready to know what our key is in on our plays and then on top of that like I said just keep my mental right and him as he's been able to understand me and how my brain ticks I'm just grateful to have him as someone who can just keep my mind right and ready in those pressure situations. Here's something I've wondered since you got drafted we knew here in Ascension St. Thomas Sports Park even if we're not involved in the draft room and things like this we had a pretty big feeling that they would try to take you because the Titans really really liked Will Leavis. What do you think they got right about you that allowed them to push forward in that way make the connection and then put you in a position to be successful as a rookie? I think they just saw my competitiveness my drive my spirit I think maybe some other teams might not have seen that or I guess misconstrued or misunderstood kind of the vibe I was giving off maybe I don't know but I'm glad that the Titans were able to see kind of my true me the tape speaks for itself obviously they liked what I do as a player at the bare minimum obviously but I think they just saw through and realized who I am as a person and that I'm a dude that they'd like to have in this locker room. They dug in on you they really got to know you. Is that fair to say? For sure yeah I mean they checked all the boxes they visited with me more than anybody else I had as many meetings with them as a lot of other teams combined you know so I knew that they're interested and they wanted to you know poke and prod and understand me at a deep level which I thought was really great because they you know were taking me seriously and then they wanted me to potentially be here as a guy that could lead this team. I've got to remind the OT people that Seat Geek is now the official ticketing partner of the Tennessee Titans whether you're buying or selling tickets to the Titans Games or any live event in Nashville Seat Geek is the place to do it Seat Geek the new official ticketing partner of the Tennessee Titans so Titans fans can fan that certainly who understands you the best is your family. You have a tight-knit family we've seen them since you become the starter they are they are there there are as a matter of fact 35 people at a game all of those people here to see you they get to watch you what does it mean to you to get to watch them a little bit in action while you're in action. That's awesome but I just I love I mean it it's important for me to take a step back and realize what I've been able to do not only for myself but for my family and I just love sharing these experiences with them and my mom gets just fired up as I do for game day and my dad is a lot more nonchalant my mom is fiery and she could be a wreck sometimes but this year she's been able to keep her cool a little more but I think back is recently to this Christmas and playing here I was able to you know have a home base for our family to come here and celebrate Christmas with each other cousins came down my grandma came down with all our grandkids and that really kind of put things into perspective and made me think about just everything that's led up to this point all the people that have helped me and loved me and allowed me to put myself in this position and I gotta just say I love him so much and can't thank him enough. Good pictures to see them. Yes. All right your draft class all of you have played extensively even some undrafted's that came in with you how close are you guys as a group. Yeah I'd say I'm definitely closest with the group that I trained with pre-draft so we had a good group out there with me during Thompson Robinson Max Dug and Henden Hooker and Clayton Tune so a few of those dudes have been able to play this year and it's been cool to go out there and see them take the field and I feel like we're tight and we got along so well because you know we're one of the couple hundred you know people professional quarterbacks or at least aspiring professional quarterbacks around the country that understands you know the pressure and I guess the expectations that are on us and at the very least we were all good dudes and we all just got hung out and spent a lot of great time together but I mean I got all the respect in the world for anyone who plays this position and I definitely have a tighter bond and feeling for those dudes who are going out there and doing it for the first time like I was this year. What about your Titans draft class? Oh yeah we got a tight class and I think you know as people have seen a lot of guys that have already contributed and shown that they're going to be good players for this team for for a little bit now and as soon as we got drafted we all got you know put together in a group and we were talking and getting ready and even before we stepped on the field for OTAs here we we made sure to get together and understand each other as a group as players and as people that week leading up to when we all got here but I mean the front office did a great job of picking not only a great group of players but just a great group of dudes. Tajé Spears was miked in the Miami game and so we got to see your interactions with him and the interaction afterwards where you were being interviewed on national television. You guys have a pretty special relationship already don't you? Yeah I mean he's just he brings the juice he brings the energy and I love that and I feed off of it and and so does everyone else in the offense and he's a dynamic player that you know we just love watching to have the ball in his hands and just a great person too but he's a great leader he's able to bring others up with him but I do have to say pretty disappointed he didn't tell me that he was miked up that game or anybody else that's that's a major fine in this building. What are you going to get out of him? Nothing I mean I think we let it slide but next time you've got to make sure that you tell the guys. That's good. Do you have your off season mapped out yet football and training wise and sort of life wise because you're an adult now you don't have to go to class you've you've got an opportunity to go see some places and do some things. No doubt I mean this has been the longest year in my life that's for sure I think any rookie will tell you that I mean the second you finish that class bowl game if you're playing it or whatever you know you start your draft prep training some guys do the senior bowls you know there's the combine if you're invited there's the whole pre-draft process with the visits the pro days and you're literally getting on a flight that next week after getting drafted to wherever you know you get chosen and you're starting off right there. I could count on you know one hand how many times that I feel like I've been able to let loose and have a little fun over the last year and you know it's been it'll be nice to have a little bit of time to decompress and then get back on the roll but we do have our trip with the old line to Vegas about a week after the season so that'll be a lot of fun but other than that I'm just making sure I'm getting my body right and ready to get back here in April for OTAs. Seems like that trip to Vegas is going to cost you a lot of money. Oh yeah I mean we haven't talked about how it's going to be all divvied up but I'm definitely I'm not afraid to spend when it's you know with this group of guys special dudes and when we're able to finally you know have a little fun. All right so we're going to take a quick break from the interview and do something kind of cool. You're going to call Doug and Lisa Brace in Franklin what are you going to do for? I'm going to tell them that their season tickets are on the house next year so. That's awesome. Yeah. All right let's dial them up. Let's do it. Hey Lisa. Hi. How you doing? This is Will Leviss. How are you? I am doing just fine we just finished up practice here. I wanted to call in first say thank you so much for your for your support of of us and our team. I also wanted to share some really exciting news I heard you've been season ticket holders. You don't have to worry about paying for those tickets next year because they're on the house. No. Oh yeah oh yeah you've won the the competition and uh oh my god. Yeah yeah so I mean next year 2024 you guys are going to be able to go to all our home games for free so I mean your continued support is uh has paid off looking forward to having a good year next year with you in the stands. Well thank you something. Yeah I'm so glad I got to share the information with you. Well thanks so much that's exciting. Yeah it's awesome so excited for you guys. Make sure to watch the game Sunday. Go Titans. Go Titans. We've got more with Will Leviss coming up but I need to remind you now that it's always game on with Duncan so grab a coffee and kick off the action whether that's drinking a cup of coffee on your way to the game or grabbing one to go before listening at home. Duncan is always there to help you get your game on just like the pros we need to be at our best come game time which is why Duncan is the most important part of your game day ritual. It's always the best call for football. America runs on Duncan. Will all right what would Will Leviss of today tell the Will Leviss of draft night when you're sitting in that green room that you wished that Will Leviss would have known that night. What would help him? That he's not getting picked in the first round. At least I could have would have saved me some stress some time maybe no but um that's good. No I would tell him to you know just trust the process and that this is what was meant for you and despite it kind of feeling as screwy as it did when it when it did all happen that you know a couple months from now you're going to realize that you're in the right spot and that the people you're here because the people want you and they love you and that would have kept me out of use. I definitely thought I had a little bit jacked up mindset when it was first happened at that time but I was able to flip it there pretty soon after but could have gone or could have at least gained a few hours of sleep that night if I was able to get my mind um a little more clear. Alright five rapid fire questions to end this thing are you ready? Yes. Nashville experience that you have not had yet that will happen in 2024. Troubadour I want to go out and play golf at Troubadour. Wow okay. Hidden talent that you possess that you're proud of. I could sing I have a decent singing voice I'm not gonna you know I'm not gonna do it right now time and place for sure but I feel like I can uh I can belt some things out when it's necessary. Alright golf course not the Troubadour golf course that you dream of playing. Augusta for sure Augusta or uh I'd say Payne Valley Tigers course in Missouri it's pretty cool they got that floating 19th green. Nice. Played it on a simulator before I want to play it in real life. In real life you can now. Yeah. Favorite condiment outside of mayonnaise. Oof I'm gonna say I got it it's basic but I'm gonna go ranch I think there's a lot of uh you know variations of it that you can uh make it a little different like jalapeno ranch jalapeno ranch Chipotle ranch you know a lot of different combinations. Alright the last one celebrity that you have been most excited to meet since joining the Tennessee Titans. That I haven't met. That you've met. Oof. Who's somebody famous you've met. Since joining the Titans. Um I I'd met him briefly before but when we were out in LA me and Taj for the rookie premiere shortly before camp I got to spend some time with Tom Brady and he was my idol growing up you know being a big Pat's fan and uh being the greatest of all time I you know I was able to ask him questions and he was incredible and he's definitely one of those dudes that you know I'm just star struck by when I see him. Well we're thrilled you're here it is so much fun watching you play and Titans fans all over excited about the rest of this year we're not giving up anything but certainly excited about what's to come. We'll love us thank you so much for the time. Thanks so much Mike. Alright that's this edition of the OTP. Thanks for joining.