Hunter Cantwell
Encyclopedia
Hunter Cantwell is an American football
quarterback
who most recently was a member of the practice squad with the Baltimore Ravens
and has also played for the Carolina Panthers
. He was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Louisville
.
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 set the Kentucky 3-A state playoff record for passing yards in a game (409) while going 31-8 as a starter.
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 out for the rest of the season. Cantwell stepped in and completed 3 of 5 passes for 66 yards, helping 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 of 25 passes for 271 yards and 1 TD, aiding Louisville in a 30-20 win. In the Gator Bowl against Virginia Tech Hokies
, Cantwell played well, throwing for 216 yards and 3 TD. Despite his efforts, Virginia Tech won the game, 35-24. He was voted the Cardinals MVP of the Gator Bowl.
On September 16, 2006, after Brohm suffered a thumb injury against Miami
, Cantwell went into the game and completed 3 of 4 passes for 113 yards and 1 TD. Louisville defeated Miami, 31-7. Cantwell started the next two games for the Cardinals, both on the road, against Kansas State
and Middle Tennessee State
. Against the Wildcats
, he completed 18 of 26 passes for 173 yards and 1 TD in a 24-6 Louisville win. Against the Blue Raiders
, Cantwell completed 17 of 32 passes for 340 yards and 3 TD, leading the Cardinals to a 44-17 rout. Cantwell helped lead the Cardinals in winning games for most of the 2006 regular season. The Cardinals finished the season 12-1, losing only to Rutgers, which helped the Cardinals win an Orange Bowl bid, the highest ranked Bowl Game Louisville has played in. The Cardinals won the 2007 Orange Bowl against Wake Forest 24-13 under Brohm.
In 2007, Cantwell played sparingly in a disappointing 6-6 season for the Cardinals. He was nominated for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Maxwell award in the 2008 preseason.
After leading the team to a 5-2 start, the Cards lost their last five games to finish 5-7, making it the first time since 1996-97 the Cardinals football team missed a bowl game in consecutive years.
, Cantwell signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers
. He was waived during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. The Panthers promoted Cantwell to the active roster on December 24 after quarterback
Jake Delhomme
was placed on injured reserve
. Cantwell was waived during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
practice squad, waived on September 9, 2010, and then signed back onto the practice squad on September 14, 2010. Cantwell was cut September 3rd, 2011, and signed to the practice squad again the next day.
On September 29th Cantwell was cut from the Ravens Practice Squad
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who most recently was a member of the practice squad with the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
and has also played for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. He was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
.
Early years
Cantwell prepped at Paducah Tilghman High SchoolPaducah Tilghman High School
Paducah Tilghman High School is a public secondary school in Paducah, Kentucky, and is the only high school of the Paducah Independent School District....
in Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
, where he became the school's all-time passing leader, completing 458-756 passes, for 7,272 yards, and 70 TD. He set the Kentucky 3-A state playoff record for passing yards in a game (409) while going 31-8 as a starter.
College career
Cantwell walked on to the LouisvilleUniversity of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
football team prior to the 2005 season. On November 25, 2005, QB Brian Brohm
Brian Brohm
Brian Joseph Brohm is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
injured his leg in a game against Syracuse and was out for the rest of the season. Cantwell stepped in and completed 3 of 5 passes for 66 yards, helping the Cardinals to a 41-17 victory. On December 2, 2005, Cantwell started the season finale on the road against the Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
Huskies
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
, completing 16 of 25 passes for 271 yards and 1 TD, aiding Louisville in a 30-20 win. In the Gator Bowl against Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Hokies are the athletic teams officially representing Virginia Tech in college sports. The Hokies participate in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference in 19 varsity sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are football, basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer,...
, Cantwell played well, throwing for 216 yards and 3 TD. Despite his efforts, Virginia Tech won the game, 35-24. He was voted the Cardinals MVP of the Gator Bowl.
On September 16, 2006, after Brohm suffered a thumb injury against Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
, Cantwell went into the game and completed 3 of 4 passes for 113 yards and 1 TD. Louisville defeated Miami, 31-7. Cantwell started the next two games for the Cardinals, both on the road, against Kansas State
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
and Middle Tennessee State
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
. Against the Wildcats
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State University's athletic teams are called the Wildcats. The official color of the teams is Royal Purple, making Kansas State one of very few schools that have only one official color; white and silver are generally used as complementary colors.Kansas State participates in...
, he completed 18 of 26 passes for 173 yards and 1 TD in a 24-6 Louisville win. Against the Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
The Blue Raiders are the men's and women's athletic teams at Middle Tennessee State University. MTSU athletic teams participate in NCAA Division I in the Sun Belt Conference...
, Cantwell completed 17 of 32 passes for 340 yards and 3 TD, leading the Cardinals to a 44-17 rout. Cantwell helped lead the Cardinals in winning games for most of the 2006 regular season. The Cardinals finished the season 12-1, losing only to Rutgers, which helped the Cardinals win an Orange Bowl bid, the highest ranked Bowl Game Louisville has played in. The Cardinals won the 2007 Orange Bowl against Wake Forest 24-13 under Brohm.
In 2007, Cantwell played sparingly in a disappointing 6-6 season for the Cardinals. He was nominated for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Maxwell award in the 2008 preseason.
After leading the team to a 5-2 start, the Cards lost their last five games to finish 5-7, making it the first time since 1996-97 the Cardinals football team missed a bowl game in consecutive years.
Carolina Panthers
After going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, Cantwell signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. He was waived during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. The Panthers promoted Cantwell to the active roster on December 24 after quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jake Delhomme
Jake Delhomme
Jake Christopher Delhomme is an American football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Delhomme played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. Cantwell was waived during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
Baltimore Ravens
On September 5, 2010, Cantwell was signed to the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
practice squad, waived on September 9, 2010, and then signed back onto the practice squad on September 14, 2010. Cantwell was cut September 3rd, 2011, and signed to the practice squad again the next day.
On September 29th Cantwell was cut from the Ravens Practice Squad