Louisville football completed its second fall camp scrimmage yesterday, and the Cardinals are seeing some solid production from the majority of the team entering the 2025 season. With the Cardinals having high expectations after being claimed as one of college football's biggest sleeper teams by Josh Pate, this fan base is all-in on the College Football Playoffs hype train.
The showdown with Eastern Kentucky is just 16 days away, and many fans are locked in on the fall camp daily updates. The Cardinals are hosting three fall camp scrimmages leading up to the August 30 showdown, and yesterday was the second of the three. After the game, a few players and coaches were interviewed, and it is clear that some players are trending up, while others are trending down.
So, here are two Louisville Cardinals stocks rising, and two that are falling after the team's second fall camp scrimmage.
2 Louisville Cardinals stocks rising, 2 that are falling after second fall scrimmage
4. Rising - Stanquan Clark
A name that has been brought up a lot this offseason, and specifically fall camp, is Stanquan Clark. The junior linebacker has earned high praise from coaches, staff, players, and national media.
Head coach Jeff Brohm mentioned that his two linebackers are having one of the best fall camps on the team, and Clark is becoming a team leader every day. After the elite linebacker earned a spot on the Butkus Award Watch List, it became clearer that he is poised for another breakout season.
Clark is coming off a season where he earned the second-most tackles. He logged 76 total tackles (43 solo), two forced fumbles, two interceptions, two pass deflections, and 0.5 sacks. Clark's breakout game last season was against the Clemson Tigers when he helped lead this defense to shut down Dabo Swinney's Tigers after earning 13 total tackles, a career high in a single game.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker has shown nothing but brilliance this offseason and has fans believing he will have an even better 2025 season.
Related: Louisville's rising defensive star just got a huge national nod
3. Falling - Offensive Line
The Cardinals' area of concern on offense is their offensive line. While this dates back to the first scrimmage, the Cardinals' head coach revealed that some players were unable to finish the first scrimmage because of the heat, and made some mistakes up front.
"Some of the new pieces made a mistake here and there that we got to get cleaned up," Brohm stated on his offensive line. "We had a few people drop out because of the heat, and some things like that, we got to be able to play in these situations. The first six games will be this hot, and on the turf, it gets hotter. You got to be able to play the full game. So, we had a few people not able to finish, and that has to improve."
The Cardinals' offensive line is still uncertain heading into this final stretch, and Pro Football Focus unveiled that Louisville's frontline must have a better season this year than last if they want a shot at the ACC Title. After losing key pieces in Austin Collins, Michael Gonzalez, Monroe Mills, and more, Louisville was forced to get some new pieces from the Transfer Portal.
While fans weren't given an update on who couldn't finish the scrimmage, Brohm did state they have some areas they have to improve on, and staying hydrated and being able to play in the heat is one of them. The Cardinals' offensive line lacks depth, and fans need this group to stay healthy. So, as long as they are healthy heading into week one, it is what matters most. However, the newcomers still have to adjust to the Kentucky heat heading into week one.
Related: 10 Louisville football players generating the most buzz in 2025 fall camp
2. Rising - Defense
The glaring theme of the day after the second fall camp scrimmage was that the defense won the day and outperformed the offense. After the second scrimmage, Brian Brohm and Miller Moss both revealed that the defense had the upper hand heading into the final scrimmage.
"I think the defense probably had a better day today," Moss stated after the second scrimmage. He explained that it is good, though, because that means this team is competitive, and after the offense won the first scrimmage, the defense came back with a bit of revenge.
Brohm stated they need to win the next one, meaning the third and final scrimmage, which is Saturday. The Cardinals' defense trending up heading into the season is an excellent sign for Louisville fans, as many believe that if this defense can get stops, limit big plays, and force some turnovers, then Louisville's offense can guide the Cardinals to a double-digit season.
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1. Falling - Nate Kurisky
Louisville's tight end position is a bit inexperienced after the Cardinals lost Mark Redman to the NFL and Jamari Johnson to the Transfer Portal. The Cardinals expected their veteran tight end, Nate Kurisky, to step up and be that guy this offseason in fall camp, but unfortunately, he has had an underwhelming showing.
The junior tight end is getting overlooked by former 4-star prospect out of high school and Miami transfer Jaleel Skinner. The 6-foot-5 230-pound tight end has been one of the biggest names rising this offseason, and is emerging as the tight end one for Brohm's offense heading into week one.
Kurisky taking a step back this fall camp and emerging as that No. 2 option for the tight end room is the reason his stock is falling leading into the third scrimmage. Last season, Kurisky was the No. 3 tight end behind Redman and Johnson as the 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end earned 12 catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns, but if he wants to earn that starting role, he must improve drastically in these final two weeks of fall camp.
Related: Louisville 2025 game-by-game predictions: Can Cardinals beat Clemson again?
For all the latest on Louisville football's offseason, stay tuned.