Louisville’s quarterback room is turning the page again, and the biggest name in the 2026 picture is a fresh transfer with very little FBS mileage but plenty of intrigue. Lincoln Kienholz is set to take over as the Cardinals’ starter in year four under Jeff Brohm, bringing two seasons of eligibility and a skill set that looks different from what Louisville has leaned on at the position in recent years.
That difference starts with movement. Kienholz is the kind of quarterback who can stress a defense with his legs, and that showed up quickly on tape.
He’s more of a runner than Miller Moss or Jack Plummer were, maybe even Tyler Shough, and his first step is sharp when he decides to tuck it and go. That gives Louisville a chance to lean into read options and RPO-style concepts, something Brohm hasn’t been able to tap into much since arriving.
There’s passing ability there, too. Kienholz brings good zip on his throws, especially in the short and intermediate game, and he can drive the ball across the field with velocity. Put that together with his mobility, and Brohm has some real flexibility in how he can build around him.
Still, the learning curve is real. This is not a quarterback room built on experience.
Kienholz has only 36 career pass attempts, and the rest of the depth chart enters 2026 without any college stats at the FBS level. Davin Wydner looks like the backup after two seasons at West Georgia, where he completed 56% of his passes last year and threw 15 touchdowns.
The other name to know is Briggs Cherry, a true freshman who could end up being one of the key recruits in Louisville’s 2026 class. Cherry is a four-star prospect from Tennessee and checks a lot of boxes physically at 6’4″, 215 lbs.
He has the arm strength, pocket command, and size that stand out right away, plus the ability to layer deep throws with touch. He’s not as mobile as Kienholz, but he can move enough in the pocket to create time and finish plays.
That profile makes Cherry look like the kind of quarterback Jeff Brohm would love to develop into a long-term answer. If that comes together, Louisville may have a multi-year starter on its hands.
The room looks a lot different from 2025, when the Cardinals had uneven production under Miller Moss. Louisville had big-play targets in Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy, but sacks and turnovers kept the offense from finding much rhythm for long stretches.
Moss started 12 games, completed 64% of his passes, and finished with 2,679 yards, 16 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also led the team with nine rushing touchdowns, mostly thanks to Louisville’s quarterback sneak success.
Moss missed one game because of a foot injury, and that opened the door for Deuce Adams and Brady Allen against SMU in late November. Adams went 12-of-17 for 94 yards, played in six games, and was occasionally used as a runner on designed plays. Allen appeared in five games and completed 8-of-12 passes for 75 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
As a team, Louisville ranked 14th in the ACC in passing yards per game at 220.6 and 12th in the league with 6.9 yards per attempt. Both numbers were a clear drop from 2024, when the Cardinals finished fifth and third in those categories.
The 2025 season also brought departures at the position. Moss graduated and signed an UDFA deal with the Chicago Bears, while Adams transferred to Wisconsin and Allen moved on to Indiana State.
In Other News...
Louisvilles Frontcourt Rebuild Just Got A Needed Preseason Boost
Louisvilles preseason schedule is now on the board, and it gives Pat Kelseys rebuilt roster a clear runway before the games count. The Cardinals will get an exhibition test against Kansas on October 21, then open the official season against Chattanooga on November 2, two early checkpoints for a team that has spent much of the offseason reshaping itself after losing most of its top players from last year.
For a frontcourt looking for stability, the encouraging news has come from two newcomers in Karter Knox and Obinna Ekezie Jr., who are making steady progress in their offseason recovery. Kelsey said both are moving ahead of where the staff expected at this stage, a welcome sign for a Louisville team that has leaned heavily on recruiting and transfers to rebuild the roster and needs every healthy body it can get as preseason work begins. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville May Get More Than Depth From This SEC Safety
TJ Banks arrives in Louisville with more than the look of a depth addition. The junior defensive back from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, came to Ole Miss after drawing interest from Alabama, Auburn and other SEC programs, then worked his way from a special teams role in 2024 into a bigger defensive presence in 2025. He was mostly used at free safety as his snaps climbed, giving him a more visible part in what was a strong Ole Miss defense.
For Louisville, that background makes Banks an intriguing piece rather than just another body in the secondary. The Cardinals appear poised to use him as a rotational safety, and his time in the SEC could offer more than experience alone. There is also the possibility that he brings some insight into how Ole Miss operated defensively, which could be a useful extra layer as Louisville continues sorting out its own back end. [Read more 🡒]
Isaac Ellis Could Give Louisville A Freshman Spark Sooner Than Expected
Isaac Ellis has arrived at Louisville with the kind of reputation that tends to travel quickly around a program. The 6-foot-1 freshman guard comes in from Overtime Elite with a track record that includes league MVP honors, and the Cardinals are already talking about the blend he brings as he gets set for his first college season. Coaches and players have pointed to his competitiveness, defensive edge, scoring ability and playmaking as traits that should fit naturally into the way Louisville wants to play.
For a roster looking for fresh energy, Ellis could be one of the more intriguing names to watch before long. His path to campus came earlier than originally expected, and that only adds to the sense that Louisville may not have to wait very long to see what he can do. If his Overtime Elite production is any indication, the freshman spark might be there sooner than many around the program first assumed. [Read more 🡒]