Louisville QB Davin Wydner Shines in Spring Game

Backup transfer quarterback Davin Wydner outperformed presumed starter Lincoln Kienholz in Louisville's annual spring game.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:07pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a Louisville football player in the act of throwing a pass, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the raw athleticism and movement of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a Louisville quarterback's throwing motion captures the dynamic energy of the spring game.Louisville Today

Louisville's annual spring game was a low-key affair, with the offense defeating the defense 43-24. While the top players were held out to avoid injuries, backup quarterback Davin Wydner, a transfer from West Georgia, stood out by completing 10 of 12 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Wydner's performance overshadowed that of presumed starter Lincoln Kienholz, an Ohio State transfer.

Why it matters

Louisville's quarterback room is largely unproven, with zero combined FBS starts entering the 2026 season. The development of Wydner and the other backups behind Kienholz will be crucial for the Cardinals' offense to reach its full potential.

The details

Wydner, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound redshirt junior, completed two impressive touchdown passes - a 40-yard strike to LaWayne McCoy and a 77-yard bomb to freshman Gavin Waddell. While Kienholz is expected to be the starter, Wydner showed he can push for playing time with his strong arm and ability to make plays downfield. Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm noted that Wydner has had a solid spring and can provide a dual-threat component to the offense.

  • Louisville's annual spring game took place on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Davin Wydner

A 6-foot-5, 225-pound redshirt junior quarterback who transferred to Louisville from West Georgia, where he made 10 starts and threw for 15 touchdowns in 2025.

Lincoln Kienholz

The presumed starting quarterback for Louisville, a transfer from Ohio State.

Jeff Brohm

The head coach of the Louisville Cardinals football team.

LaWayne McCoy

A wide receiver for Louisville who caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Wydner in the spring game.

Gavin Waddell

A freshman wide receiver for Louisville who caught a 77-yard touchdown pass from Wydner in the spring game.

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What they’re saying

“I think Davin has done a good job. He's a big, strong quarterback who can throw from the pocket. More athletic than you think with his size. He can throw it vertically; he did a good job today.”

— Jeff Brohm, Head Coach, Louisville Cardinals

“Having three guys who can compete and challenge each other is always good.”

— Jeff Brohm, Head Coach, Louisville Cardinals

What’s next

As Louisville continues its offseason program, the coaching staff will closely monitor the development of Wydner and the other quarterbacks behind Kienholz to ensure the offense is prepared for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

While Louisville's spring game didn't reveal much about the team's overall potential, it did showcase the talent and potential of backup quarterback Davin Wydner, who could push for playing time and provide a valuable dual-threat option for the Cardinals' offense.