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Malik Mecale Malik turning heads in new position

Malik Mecale Malik making a good impression on Ravens coaches in his switch from QB to WR. Hope he can make it there.



Switching from one skill position to another at the highest level of football is easier said than done. It can be especially daunting when converting from one that is protected the most such as quarterback to one that isn’t nearly as much.

After his team proclaimed long-time journeyman veteran Josh Johnson as the clear-cut primary backup to two-time MVP-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson and selected rookie Devin Leary in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft as a developmental project and potential third on the depth chart, Malik Cunningham’s best path to earning a roster spot became clear.

When the Baltimore Ravens signed the 2023 undrafted free agent off the New England Patriots, it was primarily to continue developing his skill as a quarterback while still experimenting with him at wide receiver. Now that playing quarterback is no longer an option at this time, he is not only fully committed to the switch but has impressed his coaches with how smooth and natural his transition has been when it comes to some of the nuances of learning his new position.

“He has done a great job,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “[He’s] further along than what I would have thought. When we moved him there, we’re like, ‘OK, here’s a really good athlete, really smart, gets football, smile on his face every day, going to get better in the meetings,’ but really had some natural route-running instincts, balance and body control that I really didn’t think he had... We’re excited for him and for us. Because, when you move [a player into a new position], there is some anxiety, ‘What’s next?’ He’s done a great job.”

There are several high-profile examples of former college quarterbacks who made a successful transition from dynamic college quarterback to NFL wide receiver. Two of the most notable in the last decade are three-time Super Bowl champion Julian Edelman who is retired and sixth-year veteran Jakobi Meyers who currently plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. Like Cunningham, both players began their careers with the Patriots where they first made the switch and went on to establish themselves as one of the best slot receivers in the league.

Cunningham profiles in a very similar way and can carve out a future for himself in the NFL by following in their footsteps. Athletic college quarterbacks who make the switch can develop into excellent inside receiving options at the next level whether it is at receiver or tight end because their experience playing the position gives them unique insight into what signal callers look for when going through their progressions and reading the middle of the field in particular.

“He’s doing a great job transitioning from the quarterback position to the receiver position,” Ravens wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said during OTAs in May. “He understands spatial awareness. He understands that from the quarterback’s perspective. Obviously, he understands zone coverage. So now it’s getting him to do the little things as the receivers do it because he hasn’t done it a bunch.”

In college at the University of Louisville, he had the incredibly tall task of having to follow up Jackson—who won a Heisman Trophy and will go down as one of the best players in NCAA history—as the leading man under center for the Cardinals. Not only did Cunningham do a more than admirable job, but he broke several of his predecessor’s school career and single-season records in the process. While he is focused on being the best receiver he can be early in his career, Cunningham isn’t completely closing the door on his dreams of playing quarterback in the NFL someday in the future but wants to help his team win in the present.

“I believe in myself and my ability,” Cunningham said on an appearance on The Lounge podcast in June. “Yeah, I can play quarterback. But that’s now what they need me to do right now. They need me to do something else. I’m the type of guy, whatever it takes for the team to win.”


As of right now and barring any injuries—knock on wood—Cunningham still faces long odds to make the final 53-man roster. He would likely have to outplay either or both of Tylan Wallace and Deonte Harty in order to make the team but neither will be an easy task to pull off.

Harty is a former First Team All Pro returner who was brought in to replace two-time Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Duvernay while Wallace is a former fourth-round pick who has been a staple on special teams during his first three years in the league. Cunningham would need to make his presence felt the most on special teams as a returner and covering kicks during training camp and the preseason to give himself the best shot to survive final cutdown day.

  • Poll
Louisville Football What-IF?

What would you choose?

  • Teddy Bridgewater returns for the 2014 Season

    Votes: 3 6.7%
  • Michael Bush stays healthy for the entire 2006 Season

    Votes: 42 93.3%

Since we're getting close to FOOTBALL! I have an interesting talk about our history. I want to discuss something.

Many here will always say the greatest what-if would be if Michael Bush had stayed healthy in 2006? Possible National Title game and Heisman we missed out on for the year.

But , I always tend to say the 2014 team was our most talented team in Louisville history and it's factual. The 3rd most NFL draft picks were on that team of any team in the nation. We had 10 players drafted after that season. It was really the pinnacle of all the great recruiting and development from the Charlie era. Bobby came in and had the keys to the car as we entered the ACC.

But imagine for a minute that Teddy Bridgewater would've returned for the 2014 season? Remember that season we had that early loss to UVA, the close loss at Clemson, and that Halloween game against Jameis and FSU. That team was GREAT overall, but Will Gardner wasn't great and health was an issue & we had to play Reggie Bonnafon at QB. We even won at Notre Dame. Teddy running the offense with Bobby calling players combined with all that talent would've been clearly our best team ever. I think they would've easily handled UVA and Clemson. I think with Teddy at QB, we probably finish off FSU because DeVante was healthy at that point and a Teddy/DeVante duo with Bobby calling plays would've been epic.

We never really give that 2014 team much credit, but they were a really great team and didn't even have a QB. The ACC was tough that year, plus we had a game with Notre Dame. They truly had the Power 5 size and speed all over the field that we've always dreamed of, but being in a division with Clemson and FSU playing elite football will overshadow some things.

ACC's Downfall

A good article from TOS talking about what went wrong for the league

They spend a good deal of time talking about how we need our own Finebaum, but they miss the point of what that means. Finebaum is huge because SEC fans talk and care about football 24-7.

For example, the 3rd highest ACC team in attendance is Virginia Tech at 64k per game. That would rank 10th in the SEC last year, and 12th now with Texas & OU. FSU & Clemson are our top 2 in Attendance, but they'd rank 8th & 9th in the SEC, which is now 10th & 11th with OU and Texas. Louisville & UNC are close 5th/6th in ACC attendance with around 51k per game. That would rank second to last in the SEC only ahead of Vandy.

The league generally failed in its additions over time. Miami & Virginia Tech not living up to being elite programs is generally what hurt the league. They had great teams, but took huge steps back as they've gone into the ACC. The ACC was banking on FSU & Miami being like Ohio State-Michigan or like what Florida-Bama was when Tebow was playing. They then were banking on teams like Virginia Tech, Clemson, NC State, Virginia, & Maryland all being behind them as solid opponents. But when the top of the league failed, it carried down. And then the issue of the bottom tier teams became a bigger issue. When there isn't pressure to win, it carries over to everyone.

Imagine in 2004 when the ACC was hitting it's stride and it was possibly looking to get bigger TV money than the Big Ten and SEC, imagine a world where?

1. They add West Virginia from the Big East instead of Boston College.
2. Adding WVU, a better program in terms of TV competition improves the league. And they're a Maryland rival, possibly keeps them. The Rich Rod era would've given the ACC a bigger draw.
3. Then in 2012, Maryland doesn't leave and the ACC adds Pittsburgh & Louisville instead of Syracuse.

So look at these divisions now?
FSU, Clemson, Louisville, UNC, NC State, Duke, Wake
Miami, Maryland, WVU, VT, Pitt, UVA, GT

Just cutting off Cuse and BC makes the league much stronger. Adding those 2 added pretty much dead weight of programs that don't bring much in terms of viewers. But the ACC valued academics above all. It would've added a more regional part to it as well, which pushes programs to be better. WVU, Pitt, VT, UVA, Maryland, and Louisville would create a better regional rivalry atmosphere. Less empty stadiums and bad crowds.

What fun in F Hall today!!!

Well worth the drive for those of us out in the country. lol

PK 100% needs to let Peyton teach the 221 and the 2-3 matchup to our current guys, just to have in our back pocket!

Changed the whole momentum of the game, just like it used to.

Chris Jones is a dawg. People forget that we were a few TERRIBLE calls in the Sweet 16 in 2014 from being a SERIOUS threat to go back to back nattys. 2014 team was really good.

The KP fiasco is so much in the past and the fan base is so ready for what's coming

I am so jacked.
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