Big Red Louie
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Ranking each of the Louisville football positions from weakest to strongest

By Jacob Lane

SYRACUSE, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Hassan Hall #19 of the Louisville Cardinals carries the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Hassan Hall #19 of the Louisville Cardinals carries the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – SEPTEMBER 15: Running back Hassan Hall #19 of the Louisville Cardinals shrugs off defensive back Kyle Bailey #36 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers as he runs down the field in the fourth quarter of the game at Cardinal Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – SEPTEMBER 15: Running back Hassan Hall #19 of the Louisville Cardinals shrugs off defensive back Kyle Bailey #36 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers as he runs down the field in the fourth quarter of the game at Cardinal Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

3. Running back

Returnees: Hassan Hall (So.), Dae Williams (R-Jr.), Tobias Little (R-Jr), Javian Hawkins (R-Fr.), Maurice Burkley (R-Jr.)**

Newcomers: Aidan Robbins (Fr.), Jalen Mitchell (Fr.)

Not returning: Trey Smith (R-Sr.), Colin Wilson (R-So.)

Projected starter: Hassan Hall

Player to watch: Javian “Jaguar” Hawkins

** = Walk-on

No group underachieved more under Bobby Petrino than the running backs. With guys like Dominique Brown, Brandon Radcliff, Reggie Bonnafon, Malik Williams, Hassan Hall, Dae Williams, and plenty of others, no running back over the five season of BP 2.0 ran for over 900 yards (aside from Brandon Radcliff and of course Lamar Jackson).

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Last season Louisville’s leading rusher was QB Malik Cunningham, despite having Hassan Hall, Dae Williams, Jeremy Smith, Trey Smith and of course Colin Wilson on the roster. The ball was never given to one runner to get rhythm early in games, and when a back did get hot for some reason Petrino went else where with the ball.

That won’t be the case in 2019 under Scott Satterfield, who’s offense could definitely be classified as a run heavy scheme. From 2015 to 2018, the Appalachian State rushing attacked was ranked within the top 25 every season and even in the top 15 three times.

While the scheme typically split carries pretty evenly, there were still multiple backs over the course of Satterfield’s time as head coach who reached the top 50 nationally in total yardage.

With extremely talented backs that give Satterfield and running back’s coach Norval McKenzie speed, power, elusiveness, and home run potential expect the Cards to jump from the bottom nationally in rushing statistics (104th in 2018) to the top 50 to 75 in the nation.

Position grade: B+

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