Seven bold predictions for the Louisville football 2019 season

SYRACUSE, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates a touchdown with Tutu Atwell #1 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second 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: Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates a touchdown with Tutu Atwell #1 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second 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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SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Tabarius Peterson #98 of the Louisville Cardinals sacks Eric Dungey #2 of the Syracuse Orange during the first quarter at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Tabarius Peterson #98 of the Louisville Cardinals sacks Eric Dungey #2 of the Syracuse Orange during the first quarter at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Jacob Lane – EDGE/OLB Boosie Whitlow will lead the Cardinals in sacks in 2019

It’s time to make sacking the quarterback great again around these parts. That’s why Louisville football and defensive coordinator Bryan Brown, need a quarterback-hungry hero to emerge.

Look no further than redshirt senior Boosie Whitlow.

To go from four tackles and zero sacks in just three games to potentially leading an ACC program in sacks in just a matter of a few months says a lot about a player.

First, his statistics and lack of playing time in 2018 are more about the incompetency of a coaching staff and unwillingness to use legitimate talent in the right place and right time.

Second and most importantly, it also says that a player is special, and that is the most important reason why I believe Boosie Whitlow will be a sack artist for the Cards this season.

The 6’3″ 255-pound pass rusher showed in very limited snaps as a freshman that he could be a very valuable player, securing 14 tackles, five tackles for loss, including one sack in just 9 games, and when a coaching staff that teaches rushing the passer at a high level and a hungry player combine, good things happen. After watching from the sidelines in 2018, thinking he transferred to Louisville to be an important part of the defense, Whitlow just needs someone to believe in him and let him show his talent – and that’s what he will do in 2019.

He’s fast, he’s strong, he’s athletic, and he’s elusive – and with opposing team’s having little tape or much knowledge on who he is or what role he’ll be playing early on in the Bryan Brown led defense – I see it leading to confidence building early, thus a major breakout season for Whitlow.

2019 statistics prediction: 65 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks