Three reasons Louisville football will have 2020’s most lethal backfield

Javian Hawkins returns as nation’s 4th-leading returning rusher

Louisville’s Javian Hawkins has the most rushing yards in a season in school history by anyone not named Lamar Jackson.

While you let that sink in, realize that Hawkins is only entering his redshirt sophomore season and it is clear why the Cardinals coaching staff is extremely high on the 5’9,” 185-pound every-down back out of Titusville, Florida continuing to improve.

Hawkins was an absolute terror in the backfield last season, and it appears that he is only getting started. He has a great football IQ, but as a redshirt freshman in his first year in a new system, Hawkins was certainly operating more on speed, skill, and instincts. As the year progressed, Hawkins’ game began to develop and he became a threat as a cut-back runner who became more adept at reading defenses.

A look at his season highlights will yield tons of examples of why Hawkins could just be getting started.

In game one against Notre Dame, Hawkins hit a hole hard, escaping three would-be tacklers, but took the wrong angle with one man left to beat down the field. That’s a clear example of a play a more seasoned back would have taken to the house every time.

But, fast forward to 7:00 in, and you’ll see an example of Hawkins learning to be patient, read the linebackers and make a cut-back on a play where most backs would not have gotten into the endzone.

Plays like that are what should have Cards fans ecstatic heading into the season. Hawkins is a playmaking machine with a ridiculous motor. He’s everything you want, intangibles-wise, in a running back. Now, he has to take the final step to become a complete back by making one or two more great reads per game, and he is a superstar.

Hawkins only finished the 2019 season with nine touchdowns. When he gets a chance to expand his repertoire and learn and grow in this offense, he will be a force to be reckoned with.