Gardner transferring from U of L, dad says

University of Louisville quarterback Will Gardner, the Cardinals' starter most of last year, but who did not play any this season, has asked for and been granted his release to transfer to a new school, his father confirmed to The Courier-Journal. U of L also confirmed it late Tuesday night.

Glenn Gardner said his son will graduate from U of L with a bachelor's degree in sports administration on Dec. 18, so presumably he will be able to play at another Football Bowl Subdivision program next season without having to sit out a year.

"He's just looking for a new home for next year, a new place to play," Glenn Gardner said. "He's just going to transfer, going to move on in life."

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Will Gardner, a fourth-year junior, started seven games for U of L, including the season opener, in 2014 before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in a knee - the third time he's had that same injury since his senior year of high school. He threw for 1,669 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions that year.

He was Teddy Bridgewater's primary backup during the 2013 season, and he redshirted his first year in Louisville in 2012 while rehabbing his second ACL injury.

Glenn Gardner said his son "feels 100 percent" right now.

He has no geographical preference about where he transfer, his dad said.

"He's just looking for a place to play football, a place to get an opportunity," the elder Gardner said.

Will Gardner was part of U of L's four-man quarterback competition during fall training camp, but he never appeared in a game this season as Petrino went instead with freshman Lamar Jackson and sophomores Kyle Bolin and Reggie Bonnafon at the position. Bolin started the last four games of the regular season and five in all, though Jackson, who started six games, had an excellent game in relief of Bolin in last Saturday's 38-24 win at Kentucky, and he would figure to be positioned to be the No. 1 QB in 2016.

U of L's quarterback picture once looked overly crowded, with the Cardinals also having backups Tyler Ferguson and Pat Thomas playing the position through the spring. But Thomas moved to wide receiver, and Ferguson left the program early in training camp.

Bonnafon started U of L's season opener against Auburn, but he transitioned gradually to running back, though he still played backup quarterback.

Now Jackson and Bolin are the only remaining full-time scholarship quarterbacks, and, for depth purposes, the Cards appear to have a real need for both of their highly regarded Class of 2016 QB commitments: dual-threat players Jawon Pass of Georgia and Tylin Oden of Tennessee.