Louisville football: Five true freshmen that could step into starting roles
By Dalton Pence
Offensive Candidates
Luke Kandra – OG
Like Wilson, Kandra saw a huge jump in the final 2020 rankings, rising up to four-star status (247Sports). The Cincinnati, OH native received interest from Purdue, Boston College, Indiana, Cincinnati, and others; but opted to become a Cardinal.
On the field, Kandra’s speed, explosiveness, and point of attack allow him to neutralize his assignment. The 6-foot-5 Kandra weights in at just over 300 pounds, but he runs an impressive 4.9 40-yard dash, granting him the ability to block beyond the line of scrimmage.
Related: Luke Kandra highlight tapes
The route to a starting position will admittedly be tougher for Kandra than the others on the list. He currently sits as the backup at LG behind red shirt junior Caleb Chandler in the recent depth chart release, although there’s no real way to know if that reflects where things stand today.
Offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford excels in getting explosive linemen into the NFL, and Kandra fits that description. His speed and quickness for his size combined with his high motor could eventually find him as a starter as the season progresses.
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With Chandler expected to be the next “star” offensive lineman, it’s more likely that Kandra pushes redshirt senior Robbie Bell, who is likely to start at the right guard position. Bell has had injury issues and has struggled at times against bigger and more athletic competition, and that could allow the true freshman to earn his way into the lineup.