Here’s what the Rebels will face in Louisville QB Malik Cunningham
OXFORD, Miss. — There are numerous similarities between the two field generals who are meeting this Monday night in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Louisville and Ole Miss square off in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.
Louisville’s Malik Cunningham, in his fourth year with the Cardinals, is a very dangerous quarterback, a dual-threat guy who makes things happen. And if you’ve followed any of our “QB Film Room” articles on Matt Corral, you know how talented the Rebels’ signal-caller is. He’s the nation’s finest, in my opinion.
As a freshman in 2018 serving in a backup role, Cunningham led the team in rushing with 497 yards and notched five scores, including a 75-yard touchdown run against Kentucky.
MALIK CUNNINGHAM BREAKS FREE FOR A 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN 🤐pic.twitter.com/HWgK83uXBi
— LFL (@LiveFeedLville) November 25, 2018
As the full-time starter in 2019, Cunningham ran for 482 yards, the third-best total on the team, and had an ESPN Total QBR (83.9) that ranked second in the ACC only to Clemson’s defending national champion quarterback, Trevor Lawrence (87.3). No other ACC quarterback broke the 80.0 mark in 2019.
Malik Cunningham to Dez Fitzgerald (😂) for 6!!!
LET'S GO CARDS!! @MalikMalikc10 @dezfitz8 pic.twitter.com/2jdCCWzH0z
— Satterdays (@Satterdays) September 21, 2019
Cunningham had another stellar year in 2020, passing for a career-high 2,617 yards and 20 touchdowns while also having his best year rushing with 609 yards (4.6 average, and second-most on the team) with seven scores.
I just got finished watching Malik Cunningham and I am a fan. Here are some of my favorite throws from Cunningham from the 2020 season. He's a super talented player, I'm excited to see him continue to improve. pic.twitter.com/kMUd0owMeS
— Kyle (@GimRari) December 22, 2020
He is ranked No. 7 among returning Power 5 quarterbacks in Total QBR in 2021, yet finds himself excluded from many sportswriters’ and publications’ Top 3 All-ACC preseason teams.
Those nods generally went to UNC’s Sam Howell (a Heisman candidate QB who has yet to hit a QBR of 80 or higher in his two seasons), Boston College QB Phil Jurkovek (71.3 QBR in 2020), and Kenny Pickett of Pitt (11th in the ACC in 2020 with a 60.9 QBR), a real head scratcher.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, however, recognizes the talent his Rebels will face Monday.
Kiffin on Malik Cunningham: "He throws the ball really well, but then takes off and runs. Challenge to contain him."
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) August 31, 2021
The disrespect shown this talented young man leading the Cardinals is likely easily understood in the Ole Miss camp — with some of the “experts’” reactions to the Number 1 returning quarterback in the land, Matt Corral.
Matt returns as the nation’s leading quarterback in QBR with an 89.9 rating in 2020, third overall last year only to departed first-round draft picks Mac Jones and Justin Fields. He is only the fourth SEC quarterback in the history of the league to lead the country in total offense per game. Those other three picked up two Heisman Trophies and the third was a runner-up. They were all first or second-round NFL draft choices.
But even the great Joe Burrow wasn’t on any preseason All-SEC teams or even had a remote shot at the Heisman coming into his final season.
And at this time in 2012, a complete unknown named Johnny Manziel was sitting out a hurricane that postponed A&M’s opener against Louisiana Tech. Johnny Football then lost the university’s first-ever SEC games — both at home, mind you — before his historically mad dash to the finish line that NOBODY could have predicted. The point here is, we don’t know who’s about to do what, where or how.
As they say, the talking is about over and the true proving grounds begin. A new campaign will be underway for everyone in the country and all slates wiped clean.
Storylines for Monday’s game
This opener between the Rebels and the Cardinals has built-in storylines besides setting the tone for the coming season:
- It’s the SEC against the ACC — in a matchup of two teams who have never before played one another
- It’s a prime-time spectacle in the great city of Atlanta, Georgia and is the ONLY football game being played in the entire world on this day
- The game showcases two extremely talented — yet somewhat disrespected — under-publicized quarterbacks in undeniably the best quarterback matchup of Week 1 (at least in this quarterback’s opinion), with each QB ready to take their place at the top of their respective boards
- This game features two defenses determined to demonstrate their improvement from a year ago against two fast-break, feet-to-the-fire, no bathroom-breaks-allowed offenses. What a challenge!
This football game should be a ratings phenom as new stars are born and others confirmed. In this new age of NIL, every play holds maximum significance for America’s student-athletes. From an opportunity standpoint that now exists for each individual player, this season could very well be the best college football we’ve ever witnessed.
For the Rebels and Cardinals, it starts Monday night, September 6, Labor Day 2021. Oddsmakers have it 43-33 Ole Miss, or thereabouts. Get the popcorn ready!
Hotty Toddy! Are You Ready?!
(Feature image credit Malik Cunningham: Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
(Feature image credit Sam Williams: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss; Graphic: Nick Filipich, Rebel Walk)
David Walker
David Walker was named Louisiana’s High School Player of the Year at just 16 years old and, at 17, became college football’s first quarterback to earn Freshman of the Year honors. He remains the NCAA’s youngest-ever starting quarterback, a distinction that has stood for decades.
Transitioning from a wide-open high school offense to Emory Bellard’s renowned wishbone triple option, Walker excelled as a dual-threat quarterback. He graduated as Texas A&M’s all-time winningest quarterback and served as a two-time team captain, helping to transform a program that had endured 15 losing seasons in the previous 16 years.
After his playing career, Walker coached and taught algebra at six Texas high schools before moving into private business. In 2011, he published his memoir, “I’ll Tell You When You’re Good,” a title inspired by the coaching philosophy of Shannon Suarez, the Sulphur High and Louisiana High School Hall of Fame coach who was a significant influence on Walker’s life and career.
Walker’s compelling storytelling in his autobiography reflects the breadth of his experiences in high school and college football, and it is an undeniable fact that he saw more action than any athlete in the history of the NCAA. Since 2013, he has contributed to The Rebel Walk, sharing his insights and expertise with readers.
