TJ Quinn’s journey at Louisville wasn’t just about legacy-it was about leaving one of his own.
A former three-star recruit out of Valdosta, Georgia, Quinn arrived on campus in 2021 with his father’s footsteps to follow and a reputation to build. Five years later, the hard-hitting linebacker walks away as a three-time team leader in tackles, a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ defense, and now, a participant in the upcoming American Bowl, a college football all-star showcase set for Jan. 22 in Orlando.
“There’s nothing like college football,” Quinn said ahead of Louisville’s appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl. “I know I will never have these moments again… I’m just thankful for everything, and I’m so glad I stayed here.”
That decision to stay-through coaching changes, roster turnover, and the ever-tempting transfer portal-has paid dividends for both Quinn and the Louisville program. In an era where player movement is more common than continuity, Quinn’s five-year stay speaks volumes about his loyalty and leadership.
At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Quinn brought a physical presence to the middle of the field, but his impact went far beyond size. Over the course of 54 career games, he racked up 289 total tackles, including 15 for loss, along with five sacks, nine pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. He wasn’t just productive-he was consistent, leading the team in tackles for three straight seasons during a stretch where Louisville went 28-12.
His breakout came in 2023, when he tallied 87 stops and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention honors. That year included four games with double-digit tackles, a testament to both his nose for the ball and his ability to read plays before they developed. He followed that up with an even stronger 2024 campaign, posting a career-high 95 tackles, eight of them for loss, three sacks, and two picks-good enough to earn third-team All-ACC recognition.
But Quinn’s legacy isn’t just in the numbers. It’s in the leadership he brought to a defense that grew into one of the ACC’s most reliable units. It’s in the example he set for younger players, and in the pride he carried as a second-generation Cardinal-his father, Terry Quinn, played at Louisville from 1991-94, overlapping with current head coach Jeff Brohm.
Now, as TJ prepares for one final college showcase under the lights in Orlando, he does so as a player who maximized every ounce of his college career. The American Bowl will give him a chance to show scouts what Louisville fans have known for years: Quinn is a smart, instinctive, and physical linebacker who just knows how to make plays.
Kickoff for the American Bowl is set for 8 p.m. on Jan. 22 and will be televised on NFL Network. For Quinn, it’s one more chance to suit up, one more chance to hit somebody, and one more chance to prove he belongs at the next level.