Way too early Louisville football depth chart: Running back

Back-up: Hassan Hall

Junior

If you want to have a solid “back up” in your rotation, adding a second-team All-ACC player back to the lineup is not a bad plan.

Earlier this spring, we wrote about why Louisville has the potential to be the best backfield in the country. Hall is a massive reason why. If Javian Hawkins is the pesky left-handed jab, Hall is Louisville’s right hook. Hall’s game packs a hell of a punch, and if you’re looking at Louisville’s backfield across the board, he probably has the most complete game of all of the running backs.

Hawkins was the player with all the carries and the gaudy stats in 2019, but Hall was a complete player a game-changer in his own right. He went for 501 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and he was third in the country with 30.5 yards per kick off return, including one that went for six.

While he never got the attention or publicity that Hawkins received, Hall was easily one of the most important players for Louisville in 2019 and his All-ACC nod was more than deserved. This year, Hall will look to elevate his game and add new dynamics that will allow him to see more time on the field.

In Scott Satterfield’s second season I expect a ton of new wrinkles to the playbook, which could and should include more opportunities for Hall and Hawkins to be on the field together. Hall has been a better pass catcher thus far in his career than Hawkins, and that’s where I envision he could see the biggest growth.

Jody Demling of Cardinal Authority joined Nick Coffey’s radio show earlier this year to talk about the football program leading into spring practice and he talked a bit about Hassan Hall. He said:

"“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.”"

Louisville is going to go with Hawkins as the starter, but Hall is every bit as good and will take care of business each time he touches the field. If both are hitting at the same time next season, watch out.