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Louisville football: Four incoming freshmen who could play vital role in 2020

By Jacob Lane

MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: Dayna Kinnaird #57 of the Louisville Cardinals waits to take the field prior to the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: Dayna Kinnaird #57 of the Louisville Cardinals waits to take the field prior to the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 05: Blanton Creque #45 of the Louisville Cardinals kicks a field goal in the game against the Boston College Eagles at Cardinal Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 05: Blanton Creque #45 of the Louisville Cardinals kicks a field goal in the game against the Boston College Eagles at Cardinal Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Brock Travelstead – K

Out of all of Louisville’s 20-plus commitments, the one least talked about could, in fact, be the most important for Louisville football next year.

Stu Holt and the Louisville football staff found a gem earlier this year when they landed a commitment at one of their biggest positions of need in kicker Brock Travelstead. We can all admit that kicker isn’t really a position that gets fans “juiced” like a skill position player or quarterback might, but the importance of the position is undeniable.

Louisville’s been lucky to have a great run on kickers over the last several years with guys like Blanton Creque and John Wallace, both of whom got onto the field early in their careers, and that’s exactly what their hoping Travelstead can be. Both kickers have finished near the top of nearly every major Louisville kicking statistic and have been true difference-makers in plenty of games over the years.

We saw last season how important the kicking game was after a torn ACL knocked him out for the season, forcing Scott Satterfield and special teams coach to call on sophomore Ryan Chalifoux.

Although he had one of the biggest plays of the season, Chalifoux struggled to take command of the kicking spot, missing on both extra points and field goals forcing Satterfield and his offense to into more fourth-down attempts. With James Turner handling kick-off duties, that means the placekicking role will be wide open and a job that the freshman to be Travelstead could win.

Next. 4 recruits who could close out the 2020 class for Louisville football. dark

Despite his lack of a strong scholarship portfolio, Travelstead has been labeled by many recruiting experts as the top kicker in the 2019 class and was recently named to the All American Bowl roster. Travelstead will have to win the job in training camp next fall, but there will be plenty of opportunities for him to prove that he can be a reliable point-scorer for the Cards.

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