The Cardinal Countdown: 15 Days Until Kickoff

#15 Sean McCormack

Class: RS Sophomore

Ht/Wt: 6-5/227

Position: Quarterback

Hometown: Darien, IL

Twitter: @sean_mack3

Thoughts: Remember back on Day 17 when I said Petrino wanted all the quarterbacks? Well, Day 15 has not one but TWO QB’s rocking the one five jersey again this season. Neither player is new to the team but both are expected to contribute mainly as practice players and maybe sneak on the field if the situation is right. Since not much has changed in the last 365 days I’ll hit you with a quick repeat on Macks backstory just in case you missed it…

McCormack was a late addition to the team in 2016, signing as a preferred walk-on almost two months after National Signing Day in April of that year. He has the body type of a big time quarterback (6-5/195) but was lacking a D-I offer coming out of Chicago. According to an article from the Chicago Tribune’s Bob Narang, Sean accredited his improvement as a Senior to working with his passing coach Jeff Christensen. (Also trained Kirk Cousins and Jimmy Garoppolo) Sean visited the Louisville campus in 2016 and Petrino and the coaches expressed an interest and Sean loved the way they sold the program to him and the opportunities he would have to earn a scholarship. Nick Petrino said he was impressed with Mack’s arm strength but needed to work with him on his “athleticism”, meaning mobility, flexibility, etc.

In 2018 Sean is not likely to break into the rotation unless we suffer a few injuries but he was legitimately battling with Malik Cunningham for the backup role in the Spring after Lamar’s departure. A strong arm placed him a position to compete, and even though he lost the opportunity to start for the White team all news since then seems to be positive. I think Sean will continue to compete this year, and even though Jordan Travis seems legit the chance for him to be a solid #3 is real this fall. Wish him the best.

Sweet Tweet:

Owed a buddy of mine twenty bucks and when I tried to hand him actual American dollars the other day he scoffed at me. Sorry I don’t carry around my .00003% of that bitcoin fortune Mr. Futurama, some of us old folk still accept paper bills.

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#15 Clay Bolin

Class: RS Sophomore

Ht/Wt: 6-0/202

Position: Quarterback

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Twitter: @ClayBolin_

Thoughts: Clay joined the program last season just months before his older brother Kyle left to further his career at Rutgers (typical older brother move). Clay was a scout team player in 2017 for the Cards after leaving Morehead State but the man is no slouch. Bolin left Bourbon County High School drunk with enthusiasm (see what I did there) for the football program as he claimed nearly every passing record in the books during his career and was awarded an All-State nod from the Courier-Journal as a Senior. When asked why he decided to come to Louisville one of his big selling features was learning the game under Coach Petrino, a notable offensive mind who is consistently ranked as a Top 20 coach in today’s game by various publications.

Even though Clay’s long term goal is to get into coaching his athletic career has not yet expired and I think he can bring some solid depth at a position that could use some another 7 or 8 bodies in the room. How any Division I programs operates successfully without 15 quarterbacks is a mystery to me, but hey, to each their own I guess. Clay will likely remain a scout team player in 2018 as Puma, Malik, Sean, and Jordan are likely considered ahead of him on the ol’ nonexistent preseason depth chart (thanks for nothing Coach) but as I touched on three days ago his knowledge and talent can help across the board the next couple seasons.

Sweet Tweet:

Twenty. Yard. Frozen. Rope.

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#15 Quen Head

Class: Junior

Ht/Wt: 6-2/210

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Forsyth, GA

Twitter: @quen_42

Thoughts: The Cards picked up Head out of Hutchinson Community College the day before the early signing period last December, allowing Head to finish up his JUCO requirements early and get enrolled at Louisville back in the Spring. Out of high school Quen was a Top 5 prospect at the OLB position and Top 100 nationally. With a couple seasons of eligibility left I would project Head to work his way into the rotation at OLB this year and look to make a name for himself in 2019. You can see some of his athleticism in the clips below, but just as Ryan Beard highlighted on his NSD recap they’d love to add some weight on his frame and increase his strength so those outside runs become 2 yard gains instead of 4 or 5…

As of right now the Cards have twelve linebackers on the roster, and fortunately the worst case scenario is that it appears they may only loose one or two of those players heading into next season. Lots of young talent at the position is always good but I think a player like Head, who has multiple seasons of experience, can be a big benefit to the position group. Players like Head can come out of JUCO with two different mindsets, they can either think they’ve made it to where they deserve to be and settle, or they can come in with an appreciation for the battle they had to go through and have a drive that is looking to prove to others they not only belong but they are one of the best players out there. If the spring was any indication it seems as if Head is taking the latter approach and his skill will turn a few ‘Head’s in 2018. Get it. Heads.

For what it worth Quen’s NSD announcement also wins the award for ‘The Most Excited The Person Running Bobby Petrino’s Account Has Ever Been’ accordingly to our guy Trevor Joelson as he fired off this eight exclamation point beauty…

Now all we need to do is to get that same guy to unblock me and we’ll erase all the bad juju from 2017. I’m a nice guy, never unfairly criticize. Let’s make this right random twitter account runner guy….For real though, unblock me, bro.

Sweet Tweet:

[Valvoline employee peeks out from behind car]

“You need some new wiper blades, man?”