Louisville football: Ranking the top plays since 2010
By Jacob Lane
No. 12 – Sheldon Rankins turns fumble recovery into 46-yard touchdown return (2015)
Sheldon Rankins may be one of the most athletic defensive linemen in the history of the Louisville football program and he got to show it back in 2015 when Trumaine Washington stripped Boston College QB Jeff Smith.
With nimble hands and quick feet, the 303-pound Rankins scooped up the ball and proceeded to outrun the majority of the Boston College offense but also jump over a would-be tackler who went low, on his way to his one and only touchdown at Louisville.
This play was everything you want to see out of the defensive linemen of the future at Louisville.
No. 11 – Jaire Alexander takes a Florida State punt 69-yards to the house (2016)
In my lifetime of being a Cardinal fan I can only think of one or two other defenders who even came close to the playmaking abilities and pure swag that Jaire Alexander had. Whether it was going up and making a play on the ball at corner, or making dynamic plays on special teams, scoring was always an option when Jaire Alexander got the ball in his hands.
With ESPN’s College Gameday on campus for the first time in program history, Louisville was looking for one of their biggest wins since joining the ACC as they went head-to-head with No. 2 ranked Florida State.
With Louisville already up 25 points, to literally everyone’s surprise, and the game looking out of hand already – Florida State punter Logan Tyler lined up to punt. Waiting to return it was Jaire Alexander who took it 69-yards to the house putting Louisville up 42-10.
We all know how that one ended as the Cards handed FSU their worst loss in program history.
No. 10 – Lamar Jackson throws a 75-yard bomb to Jaylen Smith against North Carolina (2017)
Hello, Lamar.
You’ll see the former Heisman Trophy winner on this list several more times between now and number one, but if you ask me and me only, this may be my favorite Lamar Jackson play of his entire Louisville career.
For a player that was so heavily criticized for not being an accurate quarterback, this was a pretty damn good play.
Not only does Jackson display impressive footwork in his play-action dropback, but he shows incredible wherewithal to avoid a blitzer and step back up into the pocket, all while keeping his eyes downfield.
The result is a 75-yard bomb, right on the money to Jaylen Smith for a touchdown that put the Cards up in an extremely important game that would be a battle to the end.