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

Hassan Hall is just as good as Hawkins, and he’s finally healthy

Javian Hawkins made us all forget one very important thing in 2019, and that is how important his backfield mate Hassan Hall is to this offense.

Hawkins got the starting nod in game one last season, but it was Hall who was expected to be Louisville’s rising star in 2019.

Jody Demling of Cardinal Authority joined Nick Coffey on the Red Zone on Thursday, and said the player he is highest on next year is Hall:

"To me, Hassan Hall will probably make the biggest jump of anybody next year, just because, remember, he was the starting running back last year until he got hurt in fall camp… When he gets more opportunities this year, holy cow, it’s going to be unbelievable."

Even though Hawkins started off with the hot hand, I think many assumed that Hall would eventually assume the role as Louisville’s featured back as the season progressed.

Hall’s position as the team’s secondary rusher, however, felt like it had less to do with his talent and more with the outstanding season Hawkins was having.

Still, Hall stayed the course, and he had a pretty damn good season in his own right. 501 yards rushing on 108 carries, 5 rushing touchdowns, and a kick-off return for a touchdown, and Hall is only just getting started.

Look for Hall to help shoulder the workload heading into 2020.