Louisville football: 5 Cardinals who need the 2020 season most

Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 09: Micale Cunningham #3 of the Louisville Cardinals looks on against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 09: Micale Cunningham #3 of the Louisville Cardinals looks on against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Micale Cunningham – Quarterback (Rs. Jr)

You can’t talk about the Louisville football program and the hype around the 2020 season without mentioning quarterback Micale Cunningham.

The quarterback situation last season was so strange but it resulted in Cunningham ultimately landing the job and him developing into one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC. His 2,061 passing yards, 22 touchdowns (5 int) along with the 482 rushing yards and five touchdowns were some of the highest totals in the ACC.

Cunningham was one of the most efficient and dynamic playmaking quarterbacks in not only the ACC in 2019 but the entire country (you’ve probably heard he was one pass attempt away from qualifying for most efficiency stats last season)

After that breakout season Cunningham is now widely seen as the third best quarterback in the ACC and because of that the potential of Louisville is seen to be through the roof. Cunningham is a redshirt junior who still has two seasons of eligibility remaining, but right now the hype surrounding him is at an all time high.

If you’ve watched college sports enough you know that hype is a fickle thing that only lasts for so long and the further that the 2019 season is in the rearview the more questions that will start to arise about Cunningham’s ability to replicate his season. That will only be compounded should any of the receivers or other weapons decide to sit out the season for whatever reason.

That’s why Cunningham needs the 2020 season to happen, even if it means in the spring. The development we’ve seen from Cunningham under Frank Ponce has been incredible and we only expect that to continue at a high level. But who knows what the effect could be should Cunningham and Ponce not get on year experience for over 16-months.