Way too early Louisville football 2020 depth chart: Quarterback

Backup: Jawon Pass

RS senior

As of today, Jawon Pass is still a member of the Louisville football program and plans to be when the season kicks off. As long as he’s on the roster, in my opinion, he’s the best option as a backup.

While we didn’t get to see the new and improved Pass long, what we did see in his short spurt as the team’s starter was encouraging. After spending the offseason working with Scott Satterfield and new quarterback’s coach Franke Ponce, especially with rebuilding his confidence, the much anticipated season opener displayed what Pass could be for the Cards.

Against a top 15 defense, Pass looked more like the former high school All-American, completing 12 passes for 134 yards while displaying much-improved use of his legs, running for 67 yards and two touchdowns. The Notre Dame performance, one that Satterfield called “winning football” was the first time I felt like Louisville was going to be okay after what they went through in 2018 and a big part of that was the performance of Pass. He followed that up a week later against EKU, completing 12 more passes for nearly 200 yards and four touchdowns.

Pass wouldn’t play another down for Louisville in 2019, after suffering a foot injury that led to season-ending surgery, leading to the emergence of Micale Cunningham. While it’s unlikely Louisville football would’ve reached eight wins with Pass at quarterback due to his limitations as a passer, I think having him on the roster in 2020 serving as the backup will give the coaching staff great confidence and should give fans the same.

In two games Pass showed incredible amounts of improvement in his overall decision-making, turning the ball over just twice, as well as improved confidence in throwing the football around against a top defense. However, there still wasn’t enough there to make you believe that Louisville was going to be anything more than a rebuilding team due to his continued inconsistencies with accuracy, both in the short and long passing game.

It makes a ton of sense for Conley to remain in the backup role next season following his freshman season performance, but with redshirting him being a potential option and a veteran like Pass on the roster – to me, I’d lean towards having someone who has seen and done more.

However, things still could change. While it’s always been reported that Pass loves being at Louisville and isn’t interested in leaving, the attraction of being a starting quarterback over competing to be a back up could be enough to push him to transfer.

As long as he’s on the roster he gives Louisville the best option to win and continue playing the same style of play which means he should be the primary backup.