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Micale Cunningham NFL Draft Profile
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Micale Cunningham Scouting ReportMicale demonstrates other athletic attributes. He can employ juke moves and dead legs to help confuse defenders and extend plays. He’s twitchy in his movements, displaying a good change-of-direction ability. In addition to allowing him to excel in the open field, Cunningham uses his athleticism to evade pressure in the pocket. Cunningham excels in this area, routinely throwing well on the run. He does an excellent job of keeping his eyes downfield while on the move. Some of his best throws are made while operating outside the pocket. That’s not to say he can’t make throws in the pocket. There were some impressive examples on film of him putting the ball into the deep third, usually intended for Tutu Atwell. He’s demonstrated that he can throw the ball with decent placement in the short and intermediate levels of the field and that he can throw with anticipation.
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Areas for ImprovementCunningham's main area is his decision-making. In the games studied, there were some seriously head-scratching plays. On more than one occasion, Cunningham threw the ball directly to an opposing player with no Louisville receiver remotely in attendance. The Cardinals QB was lucky not to have more interceptions added to the 12 he racked up last fall. Cunningham has demonstrated the ability to maneuver the pocket with his athleticism. Yet, his vision as a runner leaves a little to be desired. There were multiple examples of him running straight into pressure. He doesn’t have a powerful arm. There were some examples of him putting a little zip on the ball.
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Micale Cunningham Career at LouisvilleLouisville provided the perfect breeding ground for a young dual-threat quarterback. Jackson had earned the Heisman Trophy in 2016 for his ground-breaking dual-threat performances, and Cunningham had the opportunity to sit and learn behind the soon-to-be NFL Draft first-rounder during the 2017 season. Although Jawon Pass was the starter for the beginning of the season, the Lousiville offense was lackluster under his leadership. Level at the half against FCS Indiana State, Cunningham came off the bench to lead four scoring drives, including his first-ever touchdown run. Despite this, he remained under-utilized as a passer in his redshirt freshman season. The Lousiville QB made just 67 passing attempts, completing 59.7% for 473 yards. However, Cunningham demonstrated his dynamic ability on the ground with a team-leading 497 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns.
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Micale Cunningham NFL Draft Player ProfileAn injury sustained to Pass during an uninspiring Louisville performance against Notre Dame allowed Cunningham to lead the offense. The redshirt sophomore grabbed it with both hands and legs, locking down the starter job even upon Pass’ return from injury. While his ability on the ground remained evident, Cunningham also flashed potential as a passer. While 2,061 passing yards seems meager by college standards, he averaged 12.8 yards per attempt. In a win over Syracuse, he became the first Louisville QB since Jackson’s Heisman campaign to throw for 5 touchdowns, earning ACC and Manning Award QB of the Week honors. Moreover, he set the program record for passer efficiency during the 2019 season. Heading into a pivotal season for both program and passer, Cunningham is second in Louisville history for rushing touchdowns. He’s the only passer in program history to have 4 touchdown passes for 75 yards or more. There’s no doubting his ability to create magic and exciting plays. Nonetheless, the jury is still out over Cunningham’s NFL Draft potential. At present, a Day 3 selection in the NFL Draft would be the best-case scenario for the Louisville QB.
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