Louisville football: 5 players standing to benefit from expanded roles in 2020

Adonis Boone – OT

Junior

2018 stats: 6 games played, 2 games started 

There probably aren’t many players who will stand to benefit more on Louisville football roster’s due to player deflections than offensive tackle Adonis Boone. And there’s definitely no one with bigger shoes to fill than the junior, who is almost guaranteed to step in at left tackle after the massive loss of Mekhi Becton.

In his second season as a Cardinal, Boone was looked to be a guy capable of winning a starting job Ledford leading up to the season due to his overall athleticism and versatility but ultimately settled into a role as a swing lineman capable of reliving others as needed. Prior to the Mississippi State game, Ledford told local media about the plan for Boone entering the season:

"“We told Adonis early on in the summertime that ‘we have to really train you a lot at left tackle’ because if something happened to one of the tackles, you have to be able to step up for them. He sacrificed a little bit of being in there at guard sometimes, but he went out there and practiced that.”"

After playing in small spurts, Boone got his first major chance to shine when an injury forced star left tackle to miss his first game as a Cardinal in a pivotal matchup against North Carolina State.  Boone was more than up for the challenge just like Ledford had asked prior to the season picking up four knockdowns (or pancakes), helping the Cards pick up a 34-20 win while grading out at 77 percent according to Pro Football Focus.

That effort and performance didn’t go unnoticed, and as the coaches and team reacted to the game they all complimented the effort and play they got out of Boone, including his finishing on blocks.

Boone continued to see the field as a reserve until once again stepping into the spot left open by an absent Mekhi Becton, this time due to the Big Ticket declaring for the NFL Draft and opting to get healed up. Against Mississippi State, we got a near full glimpse of what Louisville football fans hope to see in 2020 as the offense exploded for 510 yards of total offense and four offensive scores in a 38-28 victory in the Music City Bowl.

The junior tackle is now expected to slide into the left tackle role vacated by Becton, this time for good. While it’s still possible that Boone could play at the guard spot long-term if the development of Renato Brown and Trevor Reid goes as expected, it is more than likely that he’ll line up against North Carolina State protecting the blindside of Micale Cunningham.

As expected, Boone competed at that spot throughout the seven practices Louisville had for spring practice and will move into whatever offseason programs take place (if any do at all) firmly planted in the starting role. Louisville desperately will need more time this summer as they prepare him to become the full-time starter in what could be one of America’s most explosive offenses in 2020.

With a completely new starting group last season in a new system, the offensive line struggled at times to protect the quarterback in key games. If that isn’t improved upon before the season starts, especially on Boone’s side, there will be no way for the production to match the expectations. Cunningham, Javian Hawkins, Hassan Hall, and the Cardinals explosive receivers need time to make plays happen and it will start with an offensive line that is anchored by Boone.