Ranking the 25 most important players for Louisville football in 2019

If there was one position group that kept first-year Louisville football coach Scott Satterfield up at night when he first accepted the job, it was no doubt the offensive line.

For a coach that bases his offense on a successful and sustainable run game, coming into your new program and seeing the scarcity of lineman was an immediate cause for concern. To combat the teams largest need going into next season, Louisville needed to create depth – and quick.

If your team is desperate for depth and looking for grad-transfers, it helps to land one that gains national award nominations at his position before ever playing a snap.

That’s what Louisville is gaining in University of Florida grad-transfer T.J. McCoy, already a Rimington Award nominee – given to the nation’s top college center.

A center position that outside of Cole Bentley at times, has mostly been staffed by walk-ons; only adding to the accumulation and frustration of penalties and mishaps the line has experienced. Considering Louisville’s offensive line is also fairly young, McCoy’s seniority and experience playing in SEC will no doubt help as well.

BRL’s Tanner Hickman also points out a fun fact in an article, reminding everyone not to forget the man who is coaching McCoy and the offensive line this year –

"“Interestingly enough, the 2018 winner of the Rimington Trophy was Garrett Bradbury of NC State who was coached by current Louisville offensive line coach Dwyane Ledford.”"

Whether or not McCoy will start as Louisville’s center is yet to be known, as he’s been battling with the aforementioned Bentley this summer and fall. My money is on him being the starter game one, however, as the Cards take on the Fighting Irish.

Though he’s been injured and had an up and down career at Florida thus far, his leadership and talent are far more important than anything else and having a high IQ, powerful anchor upfront is crucial for the Cards’ success.

The fifth-year senior has the weapons of a player who could help offense develop and take a big jump in improvement after spending 2018 at the bottom of nearly every major offensive statistical category.

With the addition of experienced linemen such as McCoy, and the linemen whisperer himself Coach Dwayne Ledford, we should see significant improvement from one of the most concerning position groups last season.