The Louisville Cardinals had an up-and-down season but showed clear signs of progression compared to the past few years. QB Malik Cunningham took a step forward and now leads a long list of potential NFL Draft prospects that have declared for this year’s event. Here are the scouting reports for each player that could hear their name called come the end of April.
Louisville 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Adonis Boone, G
Strengths: Strong, run-blocking lineman who bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and stays square. Works his hands throughout the action. Fires into blocks, keeps his feet moving, and turns defenders from the line to open up running lanes.
Weaknesses: Not quick off the snap into blocks, which puts him on the back foot. Displays average skill blocking in motion. Slow redirecting on the second level. Only effective in a small area.
Overall: Boone possesses size as well as growth potential and offers possibilities as a power-gap lineman.
Kei’Trel Clark, CB
Strengths: Slightly undersized but aggressive cornerback who plays with confidence. Stays with responsibilities, mixes it up with receivers, and sticks with opponents just about everywhere on the field. Display great recognition, fires out of breaks with receivers, and tracks the pass in the air. Possesses a nice move to the throw, has a closing burst, and shows ability in man coverage. Fires upfield to defend the run and wraps up tackling.
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Weaknesses: Gets a little tall in his backpedal, which hurts his ability to quickly break to the throw. Bites on receivers’ moves. Late reacting and inefficient.
Overall: Clark was a terrific four-year starter on the college level who showed consistent progress in his game. Rarely challenged on Saturdays, he went on to have three outstanding days of practice at the Shrine Bowl. Clark possesses a thin build, but he offers a lot of possibilities as a nickel back at the next level.
Want more information on Clark? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Louisville | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Kenderick Duncan Jr., S
Strengths: Once high-rated defensive back who displays outstanding awareness, flies to the action, and works to separate the ball from pass catchers. Displays solid ball skills and plays heads-up football. Quick up the field and displays good change-of-direction ability. Stout tackler who squares into ball handlers and brings them down in the open field.
Weaknesses: Lacks balance flipping his hips in transition and loses a half-step to opponents. Doesn’t possess a great closing burst. Game has leveled off the past few seasons
Overall: As a sophomore at Georgia Southern, Duncan was an outstanding DB in a secondary full of talent. He never really improved his game after transferring to Louisville and looked awful at times last season. He’s built more like a strong safety, yet previously displayed solid ball skills and can play in a zone system if he gets his game back to where it was three years ago.
Malik Cunningham, QB
Strengths: Athletic quarterback who possesses a live arm. Remains poised under the rush, has a quick, explosive release, and possesses a big-time arm. Knows where receivers are on the field, puts touch on throws, and also delivers strikes downfield. Easily eludes the rush, gets outside the pocket, and keeps his eyes downfield. Looks off the safety and effectively sets up screen throws.
Weaknesses: Must improve his overall accuracy and pass placement. Makes receivers work too hard to come away with the reception. Has targets waiting for the ball to arrive.
Overall: Cunningham was very productive at Louisville and is an RPO passer for the next level. He lacks upside, yet has enough ability to make a roster as a third signal-caller.
Want more information on Cunningham? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Marshon Ford, TE
Strengths: Well-built tight end who was productive at Louisville. Bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and fires off the snap. Quickly releases off the line into pass routes, possesses solid eye/hand coordination, and adjusts to the errant throw. Reaches back to grab the ball in stride. Effective blocking on the second level.
Weaknesses: Possesses average size and playing speed. Not built like a true tight end.
Overall: Ford was an efficient pass catcher at Louisville, yet he was never a true playmaker. He’s a move TE type, though he doesn’t show the downfield speed teams want at that spot. He has enough football ability to make a roster as a third tight end, though it’s unlikely Ford is selected in the draft.
Marshon Ford, TE
Strengths: Well-built tight end who was productive at Louisville. Bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and fires off the snap. Quickly releases off the line into pass routes, possesses solid eye/hand coordination, and adjusts to the errant throw. Reaches back to grab the ball in stride. Effective blocking on the second level.
Weaknesses: Possesses average size and playing speed. Not built like a true tight end.
Overall: Ford was an efficient pass catcher at Louisville, yet he was never a true playmaker. He’s a move TE type, though he doesn’t show the downfield speed teams want at that spot. He has enough football ability to make a roster as a third tight end, though it’s unlikely Ford is selected in the draft.
Momo Sanogo, LB
Strengths: Tough, run-defending linebacker with limited upside. Instinctive, quickly locates the action, and keeps plays in front of him. Breaks down well, fires upfield to fill gaps in run defense, and sells out on the blitz. Uses his hands to protect himself, slides off blocks, and wraps up ball handlers. Quarterbacks the defense and makes the defensive calls.
Weaknesses: Lacks playing speed and ineffective in pursuit. Really doesn’t make many plays when the ball is in the air.
Overall: Sanogo is a two-down run defender who lacks next-level size and speed.
Tiyon Evans, RB
Strengths: Tennessee transfer who bolted for the NFL draft after one quasi-productive season. Patiently waits for blocks to develop, has a burst of speed, and runs with authority. Effectively uses blocks and works runs. Strong, runs through tackles, and picks up yardage off contact. Effective blocker. Helps the quarterback sell ball fakes.
MORE: Top 10 Running Backs in the 2023 NFL Draft
Weaknesses: Not a perimeter ball carrier. Struggles cutting back against the grain without losing momentum. Caught just six passes last season.
Overall: Evans showed flashes of next-level ability last season, but he made a mistake entering the draft. He possesses solid size and running skill but really needs to develop a complete game and show sustained production.
Trevor Reid, G
Strengths: Athletic college left tackle who projects to guard. Moves well on his feet, stays square, and keeps his hands moving throughout the action. Displays footwork off the edge, makes excellent use of angles in pass protection, and correctly places his hands into defenders.
Bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and fluidly gets to the second level. Turned in a tremendous pro day workout, timing 5.00 in the 40 and 7.34 seconds in the three-cone as well as touching 38 inches in the vertical jump.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t show great awareness and is late reacting to opponents’ moves off the line. Also doesn’t get much movement run blocking. Ducks his head and bends at the waist.
Overall: Reid is an athletic prospect who displays a lot of next-level ability but also inconsistency in his game. He has the athleticism to line up as a zone-blocking guard, but Reid must get stronger and polish his game.
Tyler Hudson, WR
Strengths: Central Arkansas transfer who was very productive throughout his college career. Displays good route discipline, comes back to the ball out of breaks, and extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame.
Uses his frame to shield away defenders, is very quick, and displays soft hands. Adjusts to the errant throw on crossing patterns and makes the reception in stride. Quickly gets to top speed, keeps the play in bounds, and is effective running after the catch.
Weaknesses: Has lapses and peeks upfield before catching the ball. Must improve his route running, as he tends to slow down and gather in and out of breaks.
Overall: Hudson is a tough pass catcher who was productive as well as reliable in college. He needs to polish his game and improve his route running, but Hudson has an upside and, at the very least, is worth stashing on a practice squad.
Yasir Abdullah, EDGE
Strengths: Athletic linebacker who flashes potential as a three-down defender. Explosive, aggressive, and hard-hitting. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and covers a lot of area on the field. Quickly diagnoses plays, gets out to the sidelines to cut off the corners from ball handlers, and is a smooth mover.
Displays ability in coverage, picks up assignments, and tracks the pass in the air. Has a terrific move to the throw and gets a hand in to knock away passes. Fast on the blitz and shows the ability to flatten then catch the action from the back side.
Weaknesses: Late reacting, which puts him a half-step behind the action. Lacks growth potential.
Overall: Despite a very productive junior campaign in 2021, Abdullah was graded as a street free agent by scouts coming into the year. He improved his game and is an athletic prospect with a large upside.
Abdullah will be a situational LB at the next level who can be used up the field as a pass rusher or play in space. He needs to polish his game and improve his instincts, but Abdullah’s potential warrants being selected in the closing rounds of the draft.
Want more information on Abdullah? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Yasir Abdullah, EDGE, Louisville | NFL Draft Scouting Report
YaYa Diaby, EDGE
Strengths: Undersized edge rusher coming off a terrific senior campaign. Gets leverage on opponents, plays with outstanding pad level, and uses his hands exceptionally well. Plays faster than his 40 time, shows speed pursuing plays from the back side, and gets a lot of momentum going up the field. Fluid if asked to twist or stunt and chases the action hard.
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Weaknesses: Easily knocked from his angle of attack or out-positioned from plays. Has a thin build. More of a first-step lineman.
Overall: Diaby was a productive defender for Louisville the past two seasons and totaled 14 TFLs and nine sacks as a senior. He must add bulk to his frame and get stronger while keeping his athleticism, but Diaby possesses enough ability to be a late-round pick and a pass-rush specialist early in his NFL career.
Want more information on Abdullah? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville | NFL Draft Scouting Report