Louisville football: Who will emerge as offensive x-factor in 2019?

Seth Dawkins – Wide receiver

Senior

For the second year in a row, there is a lot of talk about two Louisville receivers who could be big-time playmakers. Last year it was returning All-ACC performer Jaylen Smith and the freshman record-breaking receiver Dez Fitzpatrick, who was looking like an NFL caliber receiver heading into his redshirt sophomore season.

This year the majority of the talk about wide receivers seems to be centered once again around Dez Fitzpatrick, who very well could end up being one of the best receivers in the ACC and maybe even nationally. While another player that fans and local media love to bring up is sophomore slot receiver, Tutu Atwell, and deservedly so.

However, the one player who continues to fly under the radar is senior Seth Dawkins. As a sophomore, Dawkins become a more than reliable weapon for Lamar Jackson, playing alongside the duo of Jaylen Smith and Dez Fitzpatrick. Because of the attention those two players received, Dawkins often was left in single coverage and was able to use his size, speed, and power to make things happen to the tune of 42 receptions for 642 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

Much like everyone else last season on Louisville’s offense, Dawkins suffered from the lack of offensive production, as his stats were basically cut in half totaling just 25 receptions for 329 yards and one touchdown.

This season with much of the focus on Dez Fitzpatrick and Tutu Atwell and teaching from one of the best receiver coaches in the country in Gunter Brewer, Dawkins will look to regain his sophomore statistical form and take an even bigger leap in terms of impact.

If the offensive line is able to take a big step forward under Dwayne Ledford and provide Jawon Pass or Malik Cunningham ample throwing time as well as the ability to set up the run, Dawkins should benefit as Fitzpatrick and Atwell see most of the coverage. At 6’3 and almost 220-pounds, there aren’t many corners who will have the ability to handle Dawkins one-one-one.

While he doesn’t necessarily have the speed that coach Satterfield looks for from his receivers, his power, size, hands, and ability to target footballs at their highest point, should make him a consistent deep threat as well as a matchup nightmare over the middle, while also giving the Cards a big-time target in the red zone.