LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville has had mobile quarterbacks before. Lamar Jackson turned the position into performance art, winning a Heisman and a couple of NFL MVPs along the way.
But under Jeff Brohm? That hasn't really been the blueprint. Until now.
Enter Lincoln Kienholz, a transfer from Ohio State and the presumed new starting quarterback for the 2026 season. After three seasons with the Buckeyes, Kienholz brings a new look to Brohm's offense: mobility, escapability and designed-run potential that Louisville hasn't seen under its current head coach.
"I definitely feel like Lincoln brings us a dimension we have not had here before," Brohm said. "He's a very good athlete. He shows that every day."
At 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 215 pounds, Kienholz is built to run and eager to do it.
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"When I say he's a good athlete in the run game, it shows up," Brohm said. "I mean, when we're doing conditioning drills, he's in the front, and that's of everybody."
His passing résumé is limited but efficient — 11-of-14 last season for 139 yards and a touchdown, along with 66 rushing yards and two scores — but Brohm sees a ceiling far beyond the numbers.
"He's done a great job through a month of leading our team," Brohm said. "... He wants to run the ball as well. You've got to make sure you get your quarterback through the season healthy ... but that is going to be a strength, his ability to run and escape. And maybe a few more designed runs as well."
Brohm said the next step is refining Kienholz's ability to process reads quickly, make sound decisions, and "throw like an NFL quarterback."
That part of the equation is familiar for Brohm, who has a long track record of molding quarterbacks for the next level. Tyler Shough, who played under Brohm in 2024, was a second-round pick of the New Orleans Saints and started nine games as an NFL rookie, is just the most recent example.
Brohm has proven he can develop NFL arms. Now, he gets a chance to work with a quarterback who can win games with his legs, too.
Kienholz isn't a complete unknown. He appeared in 10 games over three seasons at Ohio State, including a high-pressure cameo in the 2023 Cotton Bowl when he relieved an injured starter. He lost an intense competition for the Buckeyes' starting job in 2025 to eventual Heisman finalist Julian Sayin. Still, he stayed the course and enters Louisville with experience, polish, and hunger.
"He's had to sit back and watch and learn, which is not a lot of fun as a backup quarterback," Brohm said. "He knows his time is now."
Kienholz was a four-star recruit and three-sport star at T.F. Riggs High School in South Dakota, becoming the state's all-time passing leader with 9,100 yards and 104 touchdowns. He added nearly 1,500 rushing yards and 24 scores as a senior alone. A three-time state title game MVP, he originally committed to Washington before flipping to Ohio State, just the second player ever from South Dakota to sign with the Buckeyes.
That raw talent — combined with Brohm's offensive system — has Louisville hoping this will be more than just a short-term stopgap. Unlike recent Cardinals starters, Kienholz has two years of eligibility remaining.
"Does he have the experience and has he played on the field as much? No, he does not have that," Brohm said. "But he's been in a great program. He's learned under great coaches and a great team. He's, he's been around a winning team and how that works, and I think he'll do a really good job."
He's not alone in a new-look Louisville quarterback room that includes West Georgia transfer Davin Wydner and touted freshman Briggs Cherry.
"Davin played a lot of football at West Georgia. He's done a good job to this point, coming in here as well," Brohm said. "We've got Briggs Cherry, a true freshman coming in that we think is an outstanding talent that has a really bright future. He can throw the football, has got great savvy. He's done an excellent job through the first month as well. We're excited about those three guys competing. Definitely, Lincoln wants to take the reins and play great football. But we feel like we have very good depth at that position."
For a program that's had its share of quarterback transitions, Kienholz offers something different. And maybe something more.
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