He was 28 yards shy of 4000 yards of total offense (3972 yards) in 2021. As a four-year starter at Louisville, QB Malik Cunningham (6-1, 200) has very quietly gained over 10,000 yards of total offense and scored 98 touchdowns.
Malik Cunningham
Dual Threat? Absolutely
Last season, Cunningham (6–1, 200 pounds) passed for 2941 yards and rushed for 1031 yards, and accounted for 39 total touchdowns, while throwing only six INTs (in 337 pass attempts) for a Louisville team that finished 6–7.
Over the last five games at the end of the season, Cunningham threw 10 touchdowns and only 1 INT.
He threw for over 300 yards twice, accounted for five touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing) in a 41–3 win over Syracuse, and racked up seven TDS (5 passing, 2 rushing) in a 62–22 win over Duke.
Malik Cunningham-He Can Make Plays with his Legs
Cunningham scored at least one rushing touchdown in 11 of 13 games, averaging almost six yards per rush (5.98). In eight of those 13 games, he scored multiple rushing touchdowns.
He scored 3 rushing touchdowns in a 21–14 win over Boston College.
Cunningham ranked 4th in the FBS (and led the ACC) in rushing touchdowns with 20. He had a season-high 224 rushing yards in the win over Duke.
Assault on the Record Books
Going into the 2022 season, Cunningham is in striking distance of the school record for total yardage (13,175) and total touchdowns (119), currently held by Heisman-winner Lamar Jackson.
Notable Games on Louisville’s Schedule
Louisville has some notable games on its schedule this season:
- Pitt (Oct. 22)
- at Clemson (Nov. 12)
- NC State (Nov. 19)
- at Kentucky (Nov. 26)
All of the games listed above will feature a battle of the quarterbacks. Kedon Slovis is taking over for Kenny Pickett at Pitt. That DJ kid at Clemson (where Louisville has never won) will try to forget about his disastrous first year as a starter (9 TDs, 10 INTs) for the Tigers.
Leary at NC State has been mentioned as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. And Will Levis at Kentucky has been mentioned as a top NFL prospect. The Wildcats have beaten Louisville two of the last three years. Cunningham will look to avenge those losses to their in-state rival.
Honors and Accolades for Malik Cunningham
For 2022, Cunningham has been named to several player award watchlists, such as the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and the Davey O’Brien Award.
He has also been named one of the Top 100 College Football Players (#47) by ESPN going into the 2022 season.
Mailk Cunningham-A Hidden Gem (but not hidden for long)
Cunningham has flown under the offseason radar. No one is talking enough about this guy.
He is a nightmare for defensive coordinators to game plan for and you better keep an eye on him, if not he will make you look foolish.
If he can meet or exceed last year’s numbers, his NFL Draft stock will soar. The NFL in recent years seems to have leaned more toward the mobile quarterbacks that can make plays with their legs as well as their arm.
Cunningham certainly fits that description.
Thanks for reading.
