Ranking the 25 most important players for Louisville football in 2019

Seeking legitimate, significant, and (most importantly) immediate improvement in a specific position group – much less an entire side of the ball, is no easy task. Such a massive undertaking needs the right mixture of seniority, leadership, consistency, and downright play-makers.

Thankfully for Louisville football, the linebacker corps led by junior Dorian Etheridge checks off all the boxes.

The 6’3” 230-pound ‘MIKE’ linebacker is arguably the most important defensive player when on the field, as his position is responsible for getting the defensive play call in – ensuring every position is aligned and on the same page for the next play.

Bryan Brown has had nothing but high remarks for Etheridge and his increased role going into his third year (Per Michael Mccammon of 247) –

“He’s very important for us,” Brown said “He’s one of the quarterbacks of the defense. He’s no doubt been our bell cow on defense and that’s what you want. You want a guy that is in the middle of that defense that delivers a lot of blows, but is smart enough to get us in the right defense.”

You also want a guy who is poised, confident, and outspoken – qualities that Etheridge showed off as one of the two Louisville players at ACC media day:

“I know it’s easy to say this, but everybody has pretty much bought in. But this summer has been harder than any season we have been through, but we are changing things and it’s not a bad thing. It’s honestly the way it always should have been, but it just wasn’t that way. So now even if you are late for anything, you are going to hear about it. I think there’s been a lot of adversity in the summer because of the changes, but that’s the way it should be and that’s the way it will be moving forward. It will make us a better team for it.”

Etheridge made it very clear at the 2019 ACC Kick-Off that he feels right at home in the new-look program after saying it felt like “he transferred to a new school,” when asked about how different it was.

The junior linebacker has worked hard this offseason on making the adjustments needed to his game to become the star linebacker that Brown needs him to be if the defense is going to take a leap in 2019. He’s an extremely efficient tackler, who led the team in total tackles as a freshman, and in a system where he is freed up to make more plays, I expect him to do that.

Should Louisville see a significant improvement on defense this season, look no further than Etheridge as one of the main players impacting the change.