Louisville’s offense is about to have a different look in year four of the Jeff Brohm era, and it all starts with what Lincoln Kienholz can do once he takes off.
The Cardinals have spent camp leaning into the idea that a quarterback who can hurt defenses with his legs changes the math for everyone else on the field. That kind of mobility, Brohm said, brings a layer this offense has not had before.
"I think he brings us some dimensions and skills that we have not had before," Brohm said. "He's a great athlete.
He can run. He can extend plays.
He can throw on the run. And he enjoys doing that."
That threat has already caught the attention of Brian Brohm, the team’s OC/QB coach, who sees Kienholz forcing defenses to widen out and think twice before crashing down on the usual ball carriers.
"I think it puts stress on the defense, it really does," Brian Brohm said. "So, we'll have to keep working on ways to do that and utilize that type of offense along with the normal stuff that we always do."
To get ready for that piece of the playbook without piling on unnecessary contact in fall camp, Louisville’s quarterbacks have also spent time with running back coordinator Chris Barclay on drills that focus on cutting and slipping tackles. Kienholz called that work "awesome."
Barclay said he and the running backs have been just as encouraged by what they’ve seen from Kienholz with the ball in his hands.
"We're excited," Barclay said. "He's going to give us an element we haven't had in my experience on this staff. Over a few universities, we've never had that type of entity at the quarterback position."
In Other News...
Louisville Defense Is Starting To Change The Mood Around This Team
Louisvilles second fall camp scrimmage offered a much cleaner look on defense, and that matters for a team trying to reset the tone heading into the season. After a shakier first scrimmage, the Cardinals defense came back with a far more controlled performance, and Jeff Brohm made it clear he liked what he saw. The group was better at taking away big plays and turning mistakes into takeaways, two signs that usually travel well once the games count.
There is still plenty to sort out in camp, but this side of the ball already looks like it could become a strength for Louisville. The mix of returning players and transfers gives the Cardinals some real options, and the early signs suggest the defense may be the unit setting the standard rather than chasing it. If that continues, it could go a long way toward changing the mood around the team before the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Added A Proven ACC Guard With One Big Catch
Louisville has added a seasoned ACC backcourt piece for the 2026-27 roster, with Pat Kelsey announcing the commitment of fifth-year guard Seth Trimble. Trimble arrives after four years at North Carolina and gives the Cardinals a proven perimeter option who already has a rsum built on production, leadership and conference-level experience.
His senior season at North Carolina showed why he is such an attractive addition, with averages of 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while earning Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition and becoming a finalist for the Nolan Richardson Award. For Louisville, the appeal is obvious, but the timing also means the program will have to wait a bit longer to see exactly how Trimble fits into Kelseys plans. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Kienholz Is Giving Louisville Real Hope Ahead Of Ole Miss
Louisvilles build toward its 2026 opener against Ole Miss has a lot of attention on Lincoln Kienholz, and for good reason. The former Ohio State transfer arrived with the profile of a four-star recruit, but what has stood out in fall camp is the way he has started to fit the role Louisville needs from him. Jeff Brohm has pointed to Kienholzs progress as a quarterback who is not just learning the offense, but settling into the kind of presence that can steady a team heading into a high-profile season opener.
What makes the situation so interesting is the mix of traits Brohm has emphasized. Leadership matters in a game like this, and so does decision-making, but Louisville also needs a quarterback who can create when the play breaks down and make things happen with his feet. Kienholz has given the Cardinals enough in camp to believe he can be part of that equation, and now the real question is how much of that promise carries over when the competition level rises and the season starts for real. [Read more 🡒]