Louisville OL Bryan Hudson compares how transfer QB Jack Plummer compares to Malik Cunningham

The Louisville Cardinals have entered a new era. The program has a new staff, a new mindset and a new quarterback. Offensive lineman Bryan Hudson discussed the difference between California transfer Jack Plummer and the Cardinals’ quarterback last season, Malik Cunningham, at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff.

“Jack Plummer, who came in from Cal this year, he played with Coach Brohm before. He’s a little bit of a different style than Malik was. But, Malik was, like you said, more of a generational talent,” Hudson said. “[Cunningham’s] athletic ability and speed and quickness was second to none in college football.

“It is a little bit of an adjustment to Jack, but he’s a great player in his own right. He’s a great passer. His football IQ is off the charts. He’s a great addition to the team, and he’ll be a good player.”

A little bit of an adjustment doesn’t give the change the weight it deserves. Cunningham was the best QB at Louisville since Lamar Jackson. He ranks second all-time at UofL for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 38.

In his career, the lightning-fast QB boasted 7,889 passing yards and 62 touchdowns. Following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots signed Cunningham as an undrafted free agent.

Plummer obviously has large shoes to fill. If he can rock the same kicks, it’ll certainly be in a different style. Plummer is far less mobile than Cunningham. Nonetheless, he’s had no shortage of success.

After a record-breaking year with Cal football, Plummer joined the Cardinals this offseason. In his single season with the Golden Bears, the 6-foot-5 QB threw for 3,095 yards and 21 touchdowns, the sixth-most in a single season in program history.

As Louisville’s center, Hudson and Plummer are already building a bond.

“This past Saturday, I had all the all the O-line, the quarterbacks, and running backs over to my place, and we just kind of hung out and had a little bit of a cookout there,” Hudson said. “[Plummer’s] a real personal guy. We’ve got a lot of good dudes on the team, so it’s really easy to make that relationship happen.”

While Hudson and his fellow Cardinals must build a relationship with their new QB1, head coach Jeff Brohm is quite familiar with Plummer. Brohm coached Plummer while he was at Purdue. Now reunited, Brohm wants to make the most of Plummer’s final year of eligibility.

“We had a good relationship, and [Plummer] was comfortable coming back. He wants to finish with a bang. [Plummer] wants to go out on a winning football team and try to win a championship, so we want to help him do that. But he’s a tremendous young man, high character, really works hard,” Brohm said.

Watch Brohm and Plummer kick off their reunion tour on Sept. 1, when the Cardinals take on Georgia Tech in their season opener.