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Way too early Louisville football depth chart: Running back

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 05: Javian Hawkins #10 of the Louisville football program runs the ball 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: Javian Hawkins #10 of the Louisville football program runs the ball in the game against the Boston College Eagles at Cardinal Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Taking an early look at what Louisville football’s running back depth chart could look like.

While the start of college football has yet to be determined (if any changes are made at all) due to the impact of the global pandemic, that hasn’t stopped us from taking a way too early look at the depth chart for Louisville football in 2020.

As we’ve highlighted all winter and spring, the Cards have every opportunity available to them to be one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country next year thanks to the return of nearly every major contributor from 2019, including star running backs Javian Hawkins and Hassan Hall.

The running game was what defined the success of Louisville football in 2019 thanks to the emergence of Hawkins, who was one of the biggest surprises throughout spring practice into summer and fall camp. Rushing for a school-record 1,525 yards, Hawkins became one of the most lethal backs in not only the ACC but across all of college football.

The 2018 season was a disaster by every means possible, but one of the silver linings was the play of then-freshman, Hassan Hall, down the stretch of the season. Hall showed enough flashes to lead you to believe that playing for a coach like Scott Satterfield, he could easily become the next great ACC star running back.

RELATED: Quarterback depth chart preview

That didn’t necessarily happen, at least to that extent, but Hall proved to be one of the most valuable players on Cards roster as he blossomed into a secondary running back as well as a dynamic special teams member – which ultimately helped him earn Second-Team All-ACC honors.

With both backs returning as well as several others who should more extended playing time in 2020, the Cards are set up to have one of the most lethal backfields in all of the country. Running back’s coach Norval McKenzie spoke to Mark Ennis earlier this spring about his running back and their progress, saying:

"“I thought in spring. they had done exceptionally well. It first starts out with confidence, and they have that knowing the system now and knowing our playbook. I thought they improved from a physical standpoint with what coach Mike (Sirignano) has been doing in the weight room, and now I think they have improved from a mental standpoint from what we’ve been able to install offensively in those seven practices and those guys were able to grasp the material.”"

With that being the case we continue our series of looking at the Louisville depth chart, this time focusing on the running backs.

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