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Louisville football: The 25 most important players for 2020

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 05: Javian Hawkins #10 of the Louisville Cardinals 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 Cardinals 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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TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Cornerback Russ Yeast #6 of the Louisville Cardinals runs the ball past linebacker Matthew Thomas #6 of the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Cornerback Russ Yeast #6 of the Louisville Cardinals runs the ball past linebacker Matthew Thomas #6 of the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

No. 12: Russ Yeast-  Safety

Senior

2019 stats: 61 tackles, 1 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 INT, 2 FF

2019 BRL rank: 11th

One of the more controversial players on the Louisville football defense during his first two seasons, Russ Yeast was a vital piece on last season’s defense.

The former corner moved over to safety upon the staff’s arrival, and his game completely transformed.

Yeast started the first 10 games in 2019, and his 61 tackles were good for 5th on the team.

Now, Yeast is completing his transformation into a true safety, adding more than 10 pounds of muscle to his frame in the offseason, and becoming the stud athlete and leader that this team needs him to be.

Louisville football’s secondary is tremendously talented, but the Cardinals need consistency and reliability in 2020. That starts with Yeast.

After suffering a serious knee injury in Louisville’s win over Syracuse last season, the defense looked quite a bit different without Yeast in the lineup.

His role as a ball-hawking, sure-tackling defensive back is going to be crucial for Louisville this season. If he can continue to be a reliable piece that the Cardinals can lean on, it bodes well for a Cardinals secondary that is capable of taking a big step forward.

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