Malik Cunningham foregoing USFL Draft to pursue NFL dream
Last Tuesday, February 21, 2023, the United States Football League held their inaugural College Draft for their upcoming season beginning on April 15, 2023. During the third round of the draft, the Birmingham Stallions selected Louisville’s Malik Cunningham with the 22nd overall pick. With Malik being an Alabama native, it was presumed that he would consider the offer.
But, during an interview at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, the tenured Louisville signal caller put an end to any of those speculations very quickly.
Louisville QB Malik Cunningham said he’s not playing in the USFL (was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions) and that he’s here for the Combine and to play in the NFL pic.twitter.com/hlX12j0MtD
— Billy “Arm Wrestled Travis Bagent” Riccette (@Billy_Riccette) March 3, 2023
He made it very clear that his efforts were being directed solely toward the NFL Draft, so much so that he barely even entertained the idea of playing 90-miles from home in the USFL. Cunningham was one of five Louisville Cardinals to be invited to the 2023 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Joining him in the Hoosier state are cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, linebacker Yasir Abdullah, defensive lineman Yaya Diaby, and running back Tiyon Evans.
Malik Cunningham is a part of what some might consider a deep quarterback draft class. The top quarterbacks in this class are Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis. A few other notable names in this class are Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell, TCU’s Max Duggan, UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and many more.
However, one advantage Malik may have under his belt is the glowing mutual respect of his peers. Particularly, in regards to his speed. In a recent interview at the Scouting Combine, Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson told reporters that the “fastest quarterback he ever faced was Malik Cunningham.”
Trenton Simpson said he loves playing spy, said the fastest quarterback he faced was Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham and he’d love to go up against Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/4DIV6GB83w
— Billy “Arm Wrestled Travis Bagent” Riccette (@Billy_Riccette) March 1, 2023
Over the course of his collegiate career, he managed to score 120 touchdowns either through the air or with his feet. He is tied with his predecessor Lamar Jackson with 50 rushing touchdowns, which is the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in Louisville football history.
Cunningham definitely has an impressive resume in terms of stats and could easily become a mid-to-late round steal for any team.