Kedon Slovis Bio
Kedon Slovis is an American professional football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 11, 2001, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Slovis has established himself as a notable quarterback prospect through his collegiate career spanning three major programs. He was recognized as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2019 and earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2020. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Slovis has continued his professional journey with multiple NFL teams before finding his place with the Arizona Cardinals.
Early Life and Background
Slovis grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he attended Desert Mountain High School. During his two years playing varsity football, he demonstrated exceptional talent by passing for 5,549 yards with 50 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. His high school quarterback coach was Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, who provided valuable mentorship during Slovis’s development as a young quarterback. This coaching relationship helped shape Slovis’s fundamentals and understanding of the position at an early age.
In his senior year of high school, Slovis received scholarship offers from 12 colleges, with Northern Arizona University being the only in-state university to express interest. Despite receiving attention from multiple programs, USC emerged as his destination, and he committed to the Trojans in 2018. Notably, USC had been one of the few Power Five conference schools to show interest in Slovis, which came after USC quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis visited his high school. Slovis graduated from Desert Mountain High School a semester early and enrolled at the University of Southern California in January 2019.
Path to American Football
Slovis entered USC in 2019 as the second quarterback on the depth chart behind JT Daniels. His collegiate career began with an unexpected opportunity when Daniels suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener against Fresno State. Slovis made his first collegiate appearance and subsequently earned his first start the following week against Stanford. In that game, he set the USC record for quarterback touchdowns in a 45-20 victory over the 23rd-ranked Stanford Cardinal, announcing his arrival as a promising freshman talent.
His remarkable freshman season continued with numerous highlights, including breaking USC’s single-game passing yards record with 515 yards and four touchdowns against UCLA. Slovis finished his freshman year with a freshman record 3,502 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions, while achieving an NCAA Freshman record 71.8 completion percentage. These accomplishments earned him the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award and positioned him as a potential Heisman Trophy contender for the 2020 season.
Kedon Slovis Career
USC Years (2019-2021)
Following his breakout freshman campaign, Slovis entered the 2020 season with high expectations. He began the year on the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List alongside notable quarterbacks including Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. Throughout the season, Slovis showcased his resilience and playmaking ability, leading multiple fourth-quarter comebacks. In a signature performance against crosstown rivals UCLA, he rallied the Trojans from an 18-point deficit, throwing for 344 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winning pass with under a minute remaining.
The 2020 season saw Slovis lead all Pac-12 starting quarterbacks in several categories including passing yards (1,921), completion percentage (67.0%), and touchdowns (17). USC finished 5-0 in the regular season for the first time since 2006 and claimed the Pac-12 South Title. Despite suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon, Slovis was named to the First-team All-Pac-12 Team and finished the season as the conference’s leader in several passing statistics.
The 2021 season proved more challenging as Slovis struggled with consistency. He worked during the offseason with QB mechanics coaches Jordan Palmer and Tom House, who have trained several NFL quarterbacks, but the Trojans finished with a 4-8 record. Slovis completed the season with 2,153 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. On December 13, 2021, he entered the NCAA transfer portal seeking a fresh start.
Pittsburgh Chapter (2022)
On December 21, 2021, Slovis announced his transfer to the University of Pittsburgh. He was named the starting quarterback for the Panthers’ season opener against West Virginia on August 24, 2022. In his debut during the Backyard Brawl rivalry game, Slovis threw for 308 yards and a touchdown in a 38-31 victory. He continued to show flashes of his talent throughout the season, including a three-touchdown performance against Georgia Tech.
However, Slovis also faced challenges during his time at Pittsburgh, including injuries and a mid-season slump where he failed to record a touchdown in four consecutive games while being intercepted four times. The Panthers’ season ended with victories over Virginia, Duke, and Miami, where Slovis threw five touchdowns. On December 5, 2022, he announced his return to the transfer portal as a graduate transfer.
BYU Transition (2023)
Slovis announced his transfer to BYU on December 24, 2022, joining the Cougars for their inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference. He wore jersey number 10 during his time in Provo. Slovis made his BYU debut in a 14-0 shutout victory over Sam Houston, contributing with two rushing touchdowns. He threw for four touchdowns in a win over Southern Utah and led the Cougars to a 38-31 victory over Arkansas with two second-half touchdown drives.
His 2023 season was cut short due to shoulder and elbow injuries to his throwing arm. After struggling against Texas, Slovis was unable to start against West Virginia, marking his final appearance for the Cougars. Despite the injury setback, his collegiate career demonstrated resilience and adaptability across three major programs.
Professional Career (2024-Present)
Slovis went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft but signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2024. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 25, 2024. On August 29, 2024, he joined the Houston Texans practice squad and later signed a reserve/future contract with the team on January 21, 2025. He was waived by the Texans on August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts.
On August 28, 2025, Slovis signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. He was promoted to the team’s active roster on October 11, 2025, amid Kyler Murray dealing with a foot injury. Slovis made his NFL debut on November 9, 2025, against the Seattle Seahawks. He also appeared in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, replacing Jacoby Brissett for two plays and completing one pass for minus-two yards. As of the 2025 season, he continues to develop as a backup quarterback for the Cardinals.
Playing Style and Strengths
Slovis is known for his quick release, strong arm talent, and ability to make accurate throws from various platforms. His collegiate career showcased his capability to lead fourth-quarter comebacks and perform under pressure. He has worked extensively on his mechanics with specialized quarterback coaches, demonstrating his commitment to continuous improvement. At 6 feet 2 inches and 223 pounds, he possesses the physical stature required for the NFL quarterback position.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his career, Slovis has accumulated several notable accomplishments. His freshman season at USC remains his most impressive statistical output, setting multiple school and NCAA records. He earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2019 and First-team All-Pac-12 recognition in 2020. His ability to throw for over 500 yards in a single game against UCLA and his 71.8 completion percentage as a freshman highlight his exceptional talent and potential.
Kedon Slovis Career Statistics
Slovis has accumulated significant passing statistics across his three collegiate programs. His career total passing yards exceed 7,500 yards with over 50 touchdowns. The majority of his production came during his two seasons at USC, where he established himself as one of the most productive quarterbacks in conference history.
College Highlights
At USC, Slovis set multiple school records including single-game passing yards (515 against UCLA), single-quarter passing yards (292 in the first quarter against Arizona State), and quarterback touchdowns in a game. His NCAA Freshman record 71.8 completion percentage demonstrated his exceptional accuracy and ball placement. During the 2020 season, he led the Pac-12 in multiple passing categories while guiding USC to the Pac-12 South Championship.
At Pittsburgh, he threw for over 1,500 yards in his lone season with the Panthers. His BYU tenure, though shortened by injury, showed his ability to adapt to different offensive systems with 11 touchdowns through the air and three additional rushing scores.
NFL Career Statistics
As of the 2025 season, Slovis has appeared in limited game action for the Arizona Cardinals. In his brief NFL appearances, he has completed 1 of 2 pass attempts for -2 yards with a 56.2 passer rating. His professional career is still in its early stages as he continues to develop behind Arizona’s veteran quarterbacks.
Education
Slovis completed his high school education at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, graduating a semester early to enroll at USC in January 2019. He went on to play at three major college football programs: the University of Southern California (2019-2021), the University of Pittsburgh (2022), and Brigham Young University (2023). This educational journey across different conferences provided him with diverse offensive systems experience and coaching philosophies.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant chapter in Slovis’s professional career as he joined the Arizona Cardinals organization. After beginning the year on the practice squad, he earned a promotion to the active roster due to Kyler Murray’s foot injury. This opportunity allowed him to make his official NFL debut and gain valuable experience in regular-season game action. His limited appearances provided glimpses of his abilities while demonstrating the challenges of transitioning from college to professional football.
As Murray returned from injury, Slovis returned to his backup role while continuing to work on his development within the Cardinals’ system. The experience of playing for three different NFL teams in a short span has tested his resilience and adaptability. With his youth and collegiate background across multiple programs, Slovis remains a developmental quarterback prospect with potential for future contributions in the league.