Ranking the 25 most important players for Louisville football in 2019
By Alex Stengel
Considering Louisville football’s linebackers are arguably the deepest position group on the team and biggest returning bright spot on defense (if there is such a thing), it makes sense that we include Inside backer C.J. Avery in our Top 5 on this list.
BRL’s Jacob Lane is very high on Avery, saying he could even be the Cards Defensive MVP for 2019, and to me it’s pretty easy to see why.
Even in the midst of Louisville’s defensive struggles last season, Avery who had moved to linebacker from safety, thrived as a playmaker and open field tackler when he got the chance.
As we’ve pointed out throughout the summer, you turn the film on and you see no. 9 at the ball nearly every time (at least when the opposing offense isn’t scoring).
Avery is a hard-hitting, fundamentally sound linebacker with great speed, who has a tendency to always be around the ball – something that makes him the most important linebacker for Louisville and maybe the most important defensive player.
As Dorian Etheridge put it at the ACC Kick-Off, the defense is going to have a completely different look, one that “keeps offenses on their toes.” He explained they’ll do so by attacking a lot, blitzing from different directions and using disguises to keep the offense guessing.
Avery will bring speed and versatility to the defense, being able to do anything from blizing, playing the run, open field tackling, and even using his skills as a former safety to cover running back’s, tight end’s, and even receivers at times.
This new staff has said repeatedly they will try to fit what they want to do scheme-wise around the players they currently have. However, there are a few players that already seem to be the perfect fit for the new schemes and systems – and C.J. Avery is squarely in that group.
He could easily lead the team in tackles and potentially in interceptions in 2019 and I don’t think it’d suprise anyone. He was once the headliner of a recruiting class for the Cards and after two seasons of improvement and evolving into a starting linebacker, this should be the season where Avery becomes a star for Louisville and in the ACC.