Hunter Cantwell

Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Hunter Cantwell


caption =
college = Louisville
sport = Football
position = QB
class = Redshirt Senior
career_start = 2005
nickname =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 5
weight_lb = 225
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1985|12|30
birth_place = Chattanooga, Tennessee
highschool = 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 due to his strong arm. Currently, Cantwell is projected by Mel Kiper to be a top rated quarterback.

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.

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, coat-tailing 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, following 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.

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, following #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, tagging on to Louisville with a 24-6 win. Against the Blue Raiders, Cantwell completed 17-32 passes for 340 yards and 3 TD, straggling along with the Cardinals to a 44-17 road romp.

Cantwell played sparingly in a disappointing 6-6 season for the Cardinals, but he is slated to start the 2008 college football season. Hunter has been nominated for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Maxwell award in the preseason. [ [http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/070108aaa.html :: Senior quarterback takes over the Cardinals' offense in 2008 ] ]

Cantwell's first game as the full-time starter was the 2008 season opener, a rivalry game against the University of Kentucky. Cantwell struggled, completing 20/43 passes with three interceptions and one lost fumble in the 27-2 loss [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282440097 |title=Kentucky dumps archrival as defense denies Louisville trip to end zone |accessdate=2008-09-01 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=] .

References