Louisville football adds Alcorn State star Qwynnterio Cole

Less than a week since entering the transfer portal, Alcorn State star safety Qwynnterio Cole has signed with Louisville football. Cole joins SWAC standouts Harry Ballard (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and Reginald Stubblefield (Prairie View A&M) as players who jump from FCS to FBS.

Cole, a two-time All-SWAC defensive player, thought about entering the NFL draft but decided to play one more college football season to improve his draft stock. In addition to being All-SWAC twice, Cole is also a two-time FCS All-American.

In 2018, Cole registered 77 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions playing cornerback and safety. Moving almost exclusively to safety, Cole had 86 tackles and five interceptions in 2019.

What Louisville football gains with Cole

Cole upgrades the defensive back room at Louisville. First, Cole adds depth to a room that is in desperate need of more talent depth. At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, the Memphis native has the physical size to play at the FBS level in the Power Five.

Because Cole began his career as a corner, the Cardinals get a versatile combo safety. Cole is a natural ball hawk who can play the deep half, third, or quarter and come down and cover the slot or tight ends in man situations.

Cole played a bit of receiver in high school, so he tracks and traces the ball well. In addition, Cole knows what to do when the ball is in the air. Cole comes to a defensive unit that improved this season but lost a lot of their talent to graduation and the NFL.

Head coach Scott Satterfield has a veteran put in the defensive backfield instead of freshman Lovie Jenkins at free safety.

Cole has finished his degree and is immediately eligible as a graduate transfer.