Top 5 players Louisville football will face in 2016

Sep 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Jaylen Smith (87) catches a pass defended by Auburn Tigers linebacker Kris Frost (17) and Blake Countess (24) during the first quarter in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

2 of 6

Nov 28, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers safety Quin Blanding (3) intercepts a pass intended for Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Isaiah Ford (1) and Cavaliers safety Kelvin Rainey (38) in the second quarter at Scott Stadium. The play was called back on a pass interference penalty on Rainey. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Quin Blanding Jr. was named to the preseason All-ACC team just a few weeks ago. He returns to a Virginia team who went a poor 4-8 only a year ago. Virginia lost to Louisville 38-31 and Miami 27-21 in back-to-back weeks, throwing away any opportunity of the Cavaliers making a bowl game.

At 6-foot-2, Blanding has great size at safety. According to Sports Reference, Blanding accrued 115 tackles and one interception last season. It’s apparent that he was one of the best safeties in the ACC last season as his awards piled up.

Here are some of the accolades that Blanding received in 2015, according to the Virginia Sports webpage:

All-ACC first-team
Sports Illustrated All-American honorable mention
All-ACC Coaches second-team
USA Today All-American second-team

Next: No. 4: Wayne Gallman

Home/Louisville Football