Louisville Football: Yaya, Malik star in 2023 Senior Bowl

The 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl is right around the corner and historically it has been a proclamation of the up-and-coming talent in the college football landscape who have their sights set on taking their talents to the next level. Representatives from the University of Louisville football program have dated all the way back to 1964, when offensive tackle Ken Kortas starred in the game.

Other notable Louisville football graduates who have played in the Senior Bowl include Quarterback Browning Nagle in 1991, Chris Redman in 2000, Deion Branch in 2002, Dave Ragone in 2003, Elvis Dumervil in 2006, Amobi Okoye in 2007, Harry Douglas in 2008, Eric Wood in 2009, Bilal Powell in 2011, Dez Fitzpatrick in 2021, among many others.

This year the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl will be held in Mobile, Alabama this Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 1:30 PM. The game will be hosted by the University of South Alabama at the Hancock Whitney Stadium and is available to watch via the NFL Network.

Two members of the Louisville football program will be representing the Cardinals this weekend in senior defensive lineman Yaya Diaby and senior quarterback Malik Cunningham. Both players were significant in propelling the Cardinals to an 8-5 season and both of them have the chance to play on Sundays.

According to a recent Twitter post by Malik Cunningham, he indicated he has now been invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, which will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The initial wave of invite recipients did not include Cunningham, but with that exciting news it appears his stock is only rising.

During his time in Louisville, Malik Cunningham tallied 9,660 passing yards, 70 passing touchdowns, 3,179 rushing yards, and 50 rushing touchdowns. He will most likely receive similar criticism to his former successor in Lamar Jackson in which he will be heralded as a runner and criticized as a passer. But, Louisville products tend to prove their doubters wrong.

Joining him on the National Team is defensive lineman Yaya Diaby. Yaya Diaby transformed himself from a zero star recruit, to a JUCO standout, to a Division I impact player. What a story of dedication and willing himself to greatness. There is no doubt he will find his way on an NFL roster at some point.

During his time as a Cardinal, he tallied 56 solo tackles, 38 assisted tackles, 94 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. If there is anything this man can do, it is find his way in the backfield and disrupt the opposing quarterback, which is exactly what he will do this coming Saturday.