Ranking the 25 most important players for Louisville football in 2019
By Alex Stengel
If you haven’t heard by now, a Scott Satterfield team plays fast and runs the football.
Along with Louisville football’s wide receivers, the staff and fans alike are bullish on the stable of running backs Satterfield has available for 2019.
One thing the staff has mentioned numerous times is the speed of the Cards offensive backs – and redshirt freshman Javian Hawkins is a speedster poised for a highlight reel season. He’ll give Scott Satterfield potentially one of his fastest running backs he’s ever had as a coach, and a weapon who will be able to do so much in the new look offense.
Hawkins saw the field on three different occasions last year, allowing him to maintain redshirt status while gaining real game experience. A recent article highlighted a few reasons why fans should take note of Hawkins this season-
"‘At 5’9″ 175 pounds, Hawkins isn’t going to be a run up the middle or through the tackles type of runner (at least not every down) for Satterfield and company this fall. Instead, where he’s going to thrive is getting the ball out in space. Whether it’s from handoffs or pitches out wide, or catching the ball out of the backfield, if you get him open, watch out. You don’t get the nickname “PlayStation” without having video game style speed and elusiveness. Looking back over the last few seasons, Appalachian State’s primary running back has averaged around 150-175 carries on the season, with rotation guys getting anywhere from 40-75 carries. Expect Hawkins to fit the 40-75 carry mark on the year, with somewhere between 450-750 yards (depending on the offensive line’s improvement) and four or five touchdowns.’"
Scott Satterfield and Norval McKenzie, Louisville’s new running backs coach, have both been extremely complimentary of Hawkins and the growth he’s made over his first full offseason.
“I learned a lot, a whole lot,” Hawkins said. “Especially now with this staff and how they have come in and created the love and pushed me to learn.
To have a better idea of how he’ll be used, it’s worth looking at the number five.
That’s the number of years Appalachian State had their secondary ball carrier run for at least 500 yards, in addition to the 1,050 the starter had in each season.
Hassan Hall might end up being Louisville’s first RB to break 1,000 yards since Bilal Powell, but I believe Hawkins will have plenty of yards this season – and plenty of highlights as well.