Will Stein's realization of his football mortality arrived quickly as a player.

A non-typical 5-foot-10, 185-pound quarterback who was described in his Louisville bio as "heady" and a "student of the game," Stein ascended to starter ahead of the Cardinals' 2011 campaign. He played well through two games but suffered a shoulder against Kentucky . He went to the sideline and out came a true freshman.

It took a throw or two for Stein to know Teddy Bridgewater wasn't going to give the job back.

"I knew right when he went in the game," Stein says with a laugh. "There's a reason he's a first-round pick."

Stein once told Lake Travis (Texas) High School head coach Hank Carter, who he worked under as offensive coordinator for two seasons, "Not only is (Teddy) a better guy than me, but he's

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