Louisville Football’s Malik Cunningham Shows Promise in 2023 Senior Bowl

The 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl took place on Saturday, February 4 in Mobile, Alabama. The Senior Bowl is an annual post-season college football all-star game that invites elite NFL Draft prospects to showcase their abilities and celebrate their collegiate success.

In past years, the Senior Bowl has featured NFL legends such as Dan Marino, Walter Payton, Joe Namath, Bo Jackson, Terrell Owens, and many others who played in the game before starting their professional careers.

Among those who participated in the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl were Louisville Football players Malik Cunningham and Yaya Diaby. On Saturday afternoon, Cunningham and Diaby helped the National team secure a 27-10 victory over the American team.

Malik Cunningham and Fresno State’s Jake Haener split reps at quarterback for the National team. Although Haener was named the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl MVP, Cunningham finished the game 3 of 5 passing for 49 yards and added 22 yards rushing on five carries.

Cunningham scored the game’s first touchdown with 1:54 remaining in the second quarter on a 1-yard rush that nearly resulted in a turnover.

He then completed a pass to Purdue’s Payne Durham for a successful two-point conversion to give the National team a 14-3 lead.

Other notable plays from Malik Cunningham include a 16-yard completion to Durham, which set up a 1st & Goal at the one-yard line, and a 12-yard run for a first down.

Cunningham’s day appeared to come to an end after a shoulder injury sustained in the fourth quarter. The apparent injury came on a play in which his pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by the American team.

It also did not go unnoticed by fans that Malik Cunningham chose to wear an upside-down University of Kentucky logo on his helmet during the Senior Bowl.

This subtle jab at the University of Louisville’s in-state rival is believed to be a response to Kentucky linebacker Jordan Wright wearing an upside-down Cardinals logo on his helmet during the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on January 28.

The fifth-year senior and graduate of the Louisville football program finished his collegiate career first in program history in touchdowns responsible for (120), tied for first in rushing touchdowns (50), fifth in passing touchdowns (70), second in total offensive yards (12,848), third in rushing yards (3,184), and fourth in passing yards (9,664).

Cunningham currently projects to be a late-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft or may potentially look to sign with a team as an undrafted rookie free agent.

On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Yaya Diaby finished his final season with Louisville recording 37 total tackles and career highs in sacks (9), tackles for loss (14), and fumble recoveries (2). Diaby is currently ranked in the top 150 overall among players on the ESPN 2023 NFL Draft Best Available list.

Other 2023 NFL Draft prospects from the University of Louisville include running back Tiyon Evans, wide receiver Tyler Hudson, tight end Marshon Ford, offensive guards Caleb Chandler and Adonis Boone, offensive tackle Trevor Reid, linebackers Yasir Abdullah and Momo Sanogo, and defensive backs Kei’Trel Clark and Kenderick Duncan.

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29.