Hunter Cantwell

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Hunter Cantwell
College Louisville
Sport Football
Position QB
Class Redshirt Senior
Career 2005 – present
Height ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg)
Nationality USA
Born December 30, 1985 (1985-12-30) (age 22)
Chattanooga, Tennessee
High school Paducah Tilghman High School,
Paducah

Hunter Cantwell (born December 30, 1985 in Chattanooga, Tennessee) is quarterback for the University of Louisville, a member of the Big East Conference.He is 6-foot-5, 227-pounds, and graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Kentucky. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr., many NFL scouts, and former Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino believe Cantwell has NFL talent, even though he is only on pace to start 1 year at quarterback for the Cardinals. He has shown tremendous ability to step in and play well in the big games when QB Brian Brohm was hurt or resting in a blowout. Currently, Cantwell is projected by Mel Kiper to be the top rated quarterback in the 2009 draft.

[edit] High School

Cantwell prepped at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Kentucky, where he became the school's all-time passing leader, completing 458-756 passes, for 7,272 yards, and 70 TD. He compiled these stats over three years even while playing with All American Running Back Joe Casey. He set the Kentucky 3-A state playoff record for passing yards in a game (409), while going 31-8 as a starter. He spent his freshman year at Buford High School, Buford, GA, where his backfield teammate was former Notre Dame running back, Darius Walker. Rivals.com gave him a 3-star rating, however Cantwell was not offered a scholarship by any major program. Student Sports named he and fellow Tilghman running back, Joe Casey, as the best high school backfield in the 2003 season. He has two sisters, Meri Brooke and Megan.

[edit] College career

Cantwell walked on to the Louisville Cardinals football team prior to the 2005 season. On November 25 2005, QB Brian Brohm injured his leg in a game against Syracuse and was going to miss the rest of the season. He stepped in and completed 3-5 passes for 66 yards, leading the Cardinals to a 41-17 victory. On December 2 2005, Cantwell started the season finale on the road against the Connecticut Huskies, completing 16-25 passes for 271 yards and 1 TD, leading Louisville to a 30-20 win. The Gator Bowl against Virginia Tech Hokies brought out the best in Cantwell, as he threw for 216 yards and 3 TD, however Virginia Tech won the game, 35-24. Regardless, Cantwell was voted the game's co-MVP.

On September 16 2006, after Brian Brohm suffered a thumb injury against Miami, he stepped in and completed 3-4 passes for 113 yards and 1 TD, leading #12 Louisville to a big win against #17 Miami, 31-7. Cantwell would start the next 2 games for the Cardinals, both on the road, against Kansas State and Middle Tennessee State. Against the Wildcats, he completed 18-26 passes for 173 yards and 1 TD, leading Louisville to a 24-6 win. Against the Blue Raiders, Cantwell completed 17-32 passes for 340 yards and 3 TD, leading the Cardinals to a 44-17 road romp.


[edit] Future Pro Career Speculation

Despite having never yet been a full-time starter at Louisville, in the spring of 2007 ESPN listed Cantwell as the best junior quarterback prospect in the nation. Brohm was listed as the top senior quarterback prospect.