Louisville Football: What to Watch for in Louisville’s Annual Spring Game

New players to keep an eye on

For a lot of Cardinal fans, this spring will be their first chance to see some of the young talent that the Louisville coaching staff has brought in this offseason, or players who have been behind previous starters in secondary roles. Here are just a few of the new faces you’ll want to look for this Friday..

Mike Boykin– Standing in at 6 foot 6, Mike Boykin is a JUCO transfer who could make a big impact right away. Originally committed to the Cards out of high school, eligibility issues forced him to play a season in the Junior College ranks. He’s a versatile athlete who has the athleticism to rush the passer, but also has the size to play the run. I’m very interested to see how new coordinator Brian VanGorder will use him, as I feel he could be a crucial part of this young defense.

Robert Hicks III – Coming in at 6 foot 1 and 240 pounds, Hicks certainly has the physical tools to compete for a starting spot at linebacker right away, as Dorian Etheridge did last season for the Louisville football program. An Under Armour All-American out of high school, Hicks was one of the most highly touted recruits from this past recruiting cycle. It’s going to be interesting to see how VanGorder utilizes the freshman linebacker this season, who enrolled early just to go through spring practice. We’ll get the first glimpse of that this Friday.

TuTu Atwell– For what he may lack in size, freshman Chatarius “Tutu” Atwell certainly makes up for with heart and just pure speed. Playing at the same high school as Teddy Bridgewater, Atwell lead his team to an undefeated season as the starting quarterback. While he’s slotted to be at wideout this fall, I’d be shocked if Atwell doesn’t make some sort of impact on the game with his athleticism and speed. Bobby Petrino and other coaches have been praising his abilities since spring ball began, so it’ll be interesting to see if his success in practice translates to the spring game.

Chandler Jones-Like Robert Hicks above, Jones was also an Under Armour All-American coming out of high school. Besides getting to play with one of his high school teammates, I would think that the lack of depth at the cornerback position really stood out to Jones when deciding on which college to attend. This lack of depth could result in Jones seeing some playing time at the corner position in his freshman season. While he may not start with the first team on Friday, look for Jones to make an impact, and possibly get some playing time this season.

Rodjay Burns– A transfer from Ohio State, Burns was forced to sit out last season per the NCAA transfer rules. Burns saw a little playing time at OSU, even after recording a pick six in his first collegiate game. With all three of Louisville’s top corners from last year’s team leaving, I’d expect Burns to be the first team’s number one corner come Friday. If he performs well during the spring game and throughout summer camp, Burns will likely be a starter and key member of the secondary rotation this fall.