Malik Cunningham Focusing on NFL Draft, Won't Play in USFL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As Malik Cunningham prepares to embark on his professional career, a contingency plan arose last month should the NFL fall through. On Feb. 21, the former Louisville quarterback was selected by the Birmingham Stallions with the No. 22 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 USFL Draft.

However, it seems that Cunningham will not be entertaining this opportunity. Speaking to the media Friday during the NFL Scouting Combine, he said that he has no plans to play in the USFL.

"I don't know what that was," Cunningham said. "Nah, I'm not playing in that. I'm here for the combine and to play in the NFL."

The USFL has no deadline for players to report, so should Cunningham change his mind and opt to give the league a shot, he is required to sign with the Stallions. Birmingham won the inaugural USFL Championship last season, and it is roughly 90 miles north of his hometown of Montgomery, Ala.

In the meantime, Cunningham is 100 percent focused on preparing for a career in the NFL, and is scheduled to participate in combine events such as the 40-yard dash on Saturday. He projects as a day three NFL Draft pick, and even as an undrafted free agent by some.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound signal caller had a bit of a down 2022 campaign by his standards, partially assisted by injuries. Playing in 10 games this past season with nine starts, Cunningham completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,568 yards and eight touchdowns to five interceptions. The dual threat QB also rushed for 565 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Still, it was enough for him to re-write the Louisville record books. Cunningham finished his Cardinals career with 120 touchdowns responsible for, good for the most in Louisville history. His 12,848 career yards ranks second to Lamar Jackson, and his 50 career rushing touchdowns are also tied with the former Heisman Trophy winner.

His 3,184 rushing yards rank third in school history behind Jackson and Walter Peacock, his 9,664 career passing yards rank fourth and his 70 career passing touchdowns rank fifth.

Cunningham's best season came in 2021. That year, he finished the year fifth in the ACC in rushing yards with 1,031, and fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns with 20. Not to mention that was on top of a 62.0 percent completion rate for 2,941 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air to only six interceptions. His 305.5 yards per game was good for fifth in the ACC and 14th nationally.

(Photo of Malik Cunningham: Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports

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