Louisville quarterback Justin Burke told me before last week’s opener against Indiana State that his team is thrilled to be flying under the radar. But if there’s one Cardinal who likely won’t stay there – no matter what his team does – its Jon Dempsey.

The 6-foot, 241-pound senior middle linebacker is a bonafide star. He had a team-high 10 tackles in Saturday’s 30-10 win. Last year, he started every game, notched a team-high 80 tackles and did it all as a first-year junior college transfer. Dempsey’s now had a full year on campus, and as a leader. He’s naturally more reserved, but last month, he suddenly interrupted a Cardinals’ book study session to tell his teammates about his mother’s 2004 death, from brain cancer. “It was time to share it,” he told me of his unexpected storytelling. “They’re my teammates.”

Dempsey’s been happily more vocal since and he agreed to be our first subject for Keep it Brief. Here at the Big East Sports Blog, we’re aiming to bring you several weekly features. Keep it Brief will give us insight into people around the league – in a very non-taxing, hopefully fun, way. So, ladies and gentlemen, Jon Dempsey…

Person I most hear I look like is… “50 Cent.”

Best pre-game song is… “anything by Lil Wayne.”

Song I don’t want to admit is on my iPod… “Beyonce’s ‘Put a Ring on It.’ My girlfriend put it on there.”

Last chick flick I saw… “’Obsessed’ with Beyonce.”

Favorite on-field feeling… “Making a sack.”

Worst on-field feeling… “Getting hurt.”

Best pick-up line I ever used… “I really don’t use pick up lines.”

Worst pick-up line I ever used…”Like I said, I don’t use lines. Girls talk to me.”

I could’ve starred in… “Get Rich or Die Tryin.’”

My teammates envy my… “Personality.”

I can cook… “Shrimp alfredo.”

If I played baseball, I’d be a… “catcher.”

Favorite Halloween costume… “I was always a football player. Every year.”

Non-Louisville Big East player I’d want on my team… “Jarrett Brown from West Virginia.”

My advice to Coach Kragthorpe is… “Keep pushing us.”