QB Tyler Shough Making a Smooth Transition to Louisville

The Texas Tech transfer is having no issues adjusting to the Cardinals in the two-plus months he's been on campus.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2023 season for the Louisville football program, as we all know by now, was a historic one. Not only were they able to crack the 10-win mark for the first time in a decade, first-year head coach Jeff Brohm helped guide the Cardinals to their first ever appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

Based on how Louisville has attacked the transfer portal this offseason, and the amount of impact playmakers they were able to retain, the Cardinals appear to be primed to try and make another run at the ACC title in 2024. That being said, last year's team will be very different at the most important spot on the field.

With Jack Plummer officially exhausting his eligibility, Louisville will have a new starting quarterback for next season. Like with Plummer last offseason, Brohm and Co. decided to find their next signal caller through the transfer portal, eventually landing former Texas Tech and Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough.

So far through his first two-plus months on campus and first week of spring practice, Shough has been making a smooth transition to his new home.

"It's been awesome. The guys have welcomed me with open arms," Shough said. "It's my kind of second time doing this coming to a new program, new team. From my experience, I really wanted to just come in and work hard, prove myself. I know that we need to develop some leaders on this team, but the only way you can do that is by building relationships one-on-one with each guy, showing what you can do, working hard every single day, bringing energy.

"That was my goal, knowing that we're gonna get reps, and we're going to have a bunch of time to get better and grow in the offense. Come in, learn the offense, get it pretty much down pat as much as I can, and keep working hard each day. Quarterback room, all the receivers, tight ends, O-Line, defense, they've been great as far as all of us coming and gelling together."

While Shough did get a head start on finding a new school, entering the portal as a graduate transfer back on Nov. 19, he wasted very little time deciding where he wanted to spend his final year in college once portal season really got going. He committed to Louisville just over two weeks later on Dec. 5, and was the Cardinals' first transfer commitment of the cycle.

Part of his decision to come to the Derby City had to do with Jeff and Brian Brohm's history when it comes to developing quarterbacks. The Brohms' traditionally high-flying style of play, Louisville's 2023 season as well as their current overall talent also played a role.

"I really think with both Jeff and Brian, and their history developing quarterbacks, and this offense and the success they've had in the league, it was really attractive when you're looking at it in the portal," Shough said. "The year that they had last year, the standard is now going to be set going forward, and we have a high standard for success. There's a lot of really talented guys on the roster, and the style of offense, you're going to be asked to handle a lot. You have a lot on your plate, and that's something that I was kind of used to in my past. I really wanted to take on that challenge, and be a part of a really good team."

His on-field track record and overall experience also made him piqued Louisville's interest. Entering his seventh and final year of college, Shough spent his first three years with Oregon and his last three at Texas Tech, and played great football at both stops.

In 15 games with Texas Tech, Shough completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 2,922 yards and 20 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, while rushing for 432 yards and eight touchdowns. In 26 combined career games with the Ducks and Red Raiders, he completed 63.2 percent of his throws for 4,625 yards and 36 touchdowns to 17 interceptions, along with 714 yards and 10 scores on the ground.

Shough's best season as a Red Raider came during the 2022 season. After getting injured in the season opener and returning towards the end of the season, he helped Texas Tech end the year on a four-game winning streak, including a 51-48 overtime win over Oklahoma and a 42-25 win against Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl. he completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 1,304 yards and seven touchdowns to four picks.

Last season, he started the first four games of the year before getting injured in the matchup at West Virginia in week four. He went 60.4 percent for 746 yards and seven touchdowns to four interceptions before getting hurt.

The one knock on Shough has been his recent injury history. For the last three seasons, he was unable to play a full season during his time in Lubbock due to various injuries. He suffered a broken collarbone in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and a broken fibula last season.

But after Louisville did some extensive physicals with Shough during his recruiting visit, the Cardinals' staff was more than comfortable bringing him aboard. Even if there was a bit of a risk factor there, his talent alone made taking that risk worth it.

"I think Tyler's talent jumps off the screen," offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm said. "He's got a big arm, he's a big kid, has an NFL type of frame. He's athletic, but he can run. He can run the football, and that was intriguing to us. But really, just the the depth of experience that he has, the way the ball jumps out of his hand. I thought he played a lot of really good football. Obviously, he's had an unfortunate string of injuries that have kind of slowed him down a little bit. But, I think his talent upside is very high."

Over the first week of Louisville's spring practice, Shough's aforementioned talent upside has been on full display. His upper tier arm strength, coupled with a very snappy throwing motion, has made deep balls an effortless venture for Shough. His accuracy is arguably the best in Louisville's quarterback room, and his mobility is night-and-day when compared to the Cardinals' starter at QB last season.

"We like Tyler," head coach Jeff Brohm said following the first day of practice. "I think he's going to work hard. Just learning the system and being able to execute, process information and play fast, be accurate and display great poise is going to be something that he continues to work on. I think he's got to feel comfortable with the verbage, the terminology, be able learn his receivers and the skill players that we have to utilize them. He's going to put in the time, we just got to get him and the other quarterbacks ready to go."

Of course, while Shough is far and away the clear frontrunner for QB1 next season, Louisville's isn't just handing him the keys to the car just like that. Brohm and Co. want to continue to improve the quarterback room as a whole should their services be needed. With that in mind, Shough has stepped in as a leader in the roughly two month he's been on campus.

"He's been a good leader to this point," Jeff Brohm said. We want to continue to push that position and make sure that Pierce (Clarkson) and Harrison (Bailey) and Brady (Allen) and all the components we have in that position are getting better because at some point you're going to need them all. But you know, I think Tyler will continue to progress all spring and we want him to have a big year."

(Photo of Peny Boone, Tyler Shough: Clare Grant - Courier Journal / USA TODAY)

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