(Photo Credit: Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Malik Cunningham, RB/KR Jalen Mitchell, WR Braden Smith, TE Marshon Ford, OC Cole Bentley, OG Caleb Chandler, OG Adonis Boone, OT Renato Brown, DE Tabarius Peterson, LB Yasir Abdullah, LB C.J. Avery, LB Monty Montgomery, LB Nick Okeke, CB Kei’Trel Clark, CB Chandler Jones, and PK James Turner.
Key Players Departing:
RB Javian Hawkins, WR Chatarius Atwell, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, OG Robbie Bell, NT Jared Goldwire, LB/PR Rodjay Burns, LB Dorian Etheridge, CB Marlon Character, CB Russ Yeast, SS Isaiah Hayes, PT Ryan Harwell, and PT Logan Lupo.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: S Benjamin Perry (Chicago, Illinois).
3 Star Recruits: RB Trevion Cooley (Knightdale, North Carolina), OC Bryan Hudson (Virginia Tech transfer), S Kenderick Duncan (Georgia Southern transfer), DE Victoine Brown (Loganville, Georgia), S Bralyn Oliver (Cornelius, North Carolina), WR Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Dillon, South Carolina), LB Jaraye Williams (Burien, Washington), WR Demetrius Cannon (St. Louis, Missouri), and OG Michael Gonzalez (Monroe, North Carolina).
2020 Results:
G01 WESTERN KENTUCKY W 35-21
G02 #17 Miami (FL) L 34-47
G03 at #21 Pittsburgh L 20-23
G04 at Georgia Tech L 27-46
G05 at #4 Notre Dame L 7-12
G06 FLORIDA STATE W 48-16
G07 VIRGINIA TECH L 35-42
G08 at Virginia L 17-31
G09 SYRACUSE W 30-0
G10 at Boston College L 27-34
G11 WAKE FOREST W 45-21
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 4-7 (12th in ACC)
Home: 4-2
Away: 0-5
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 3-7
Non-AAC: 1-0
Head Coach: Scott Satterfield
Louisville: 12-12
Career: 63-36
Bowls: 4-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Malik Cunningham (195-304, 2617 yards, 64.1%, 8.6 avg., 20 TD, 12 INT)
Rushing: Malik Cunningham (131 car., 609 yards, 4.6 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Braden Smith (27 rec., 370 yards, 13.7 avg., 0 TD)
TDs Scored: Malik Cunningham (7)
Sacks: Monty Montgomery (4.0)
Tackles: C.J. Avery (78)
Tackles For Loss: Monty Montgomery (7.5)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Kei’Trel Clark (10)
Forced Fumbles: Yasir Abdullah (3)
Kick Returns: Hassan Hall (18 ret., 380 yards, 21.1 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: James Turner (13-15 fg/fga., 87%, 40-40 xp/xpa., 79 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 3 Malik Cunningham (RS JR)
RB: 15 Jalen Mitchell (RS FR)
WR: 18 Justin Marshall (RS JR)
WR: 1 Jordan Watkins (FR)
WR: 81 Braden Smith (RS JR/TR)
TE: 83 Marshon Ford (RS SO)
LT: 70 Trevor Reid (JR/TR)
LG: 61 Caleb Chandler (RS JR)
OC: 66 Cole Bentley (RS SR)
RG: 74 Adonis Boone (JR)
RT: 56 Renato Brown (RS FR)
KR: 19 Hassan Hall (JR)
PK: 32 James Turner (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 41 Ramon Puryear (RS FR)
NT: 92 Malik Clark (RS JR)
DE: 6 YaYa Diaby (JR/TR)
LB: 22 Yasir Abdullah (JR)
LB: 9 C.J. Avery (RS SR)
LB: 7 Monty Montgomery (RS JR/TR)
LB: 14 Marvin Dallas (JR/TR)
CB: 2 Chandler Jones (JR)
CB: 13 Kei’Trel Clark (SO/TR)
FS: 27 Kenderick Duncan (GR/TR)
SS: 10 Benjamin Perry (FR)
PR: 4 Braden Smith (RS JR/TR)
PT: 49 Mark Vassett (FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/06 vs. Ole Miss Rebels | First meeting between schools.
09/11 EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS | Louisville leads the series 19-7-1. The Cardinals won (42-0) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/17 UCF KNIGHTS | The series is tied 1-1. The Cardinals lost (35-38) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
09/25 at Florida State Seminoles | Louisville trails the series 5-16. The Cardinals are 3-4 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (24-35) was in 2019.
10/02 at Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Louisville leads the series 6-2. The Cardinals are 5-2 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (35-56) was in 2018.
10/09 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS | Louisville leads the series 5-4. The Cardinals are 4-2 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (28-21) was in 2019.
10/23 BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES | Louisville leads the series 7-6. The Cardinals are 4-3 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (41-39) was in 2019.
10/30 at NC State Wolfpack | Louisville leads the series 7-3. The Cardinals are 4-2 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (34-20) was in 2019.
11/06 CLEMSON TIGERS | Louisville trails the series 0-6. The Cardinals have lost each of the prior six meetings, dating back to 2014, by an average of 22.8 points per game.
11/13 SYRACUSE ORANGE | Louisville leads the series 12-7. The Cardinals are 7-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (23-54) was in 2018.
11/18 at Duke Blue Devils | Louisville leads the series 2-0. The Cardinals won (24-14) the last meeting between schools in 2016, and they won (40-3) the first meeting between schools in 2002.
11/27 KENTUCKY WILDCATS | Louisville trails the series 15-17. The Cardinals are 6-3 since 2011, and their last series win (44-17) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Road: 1-3
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 4-4
Non-ACC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (3rd in ACC Atlantic)
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