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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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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 19: Evan Conley #6 of the Louisville Cardinals throws the ball against the Clemson Tigers at Cardinal Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 19: Evan Conley #6 of the Louisville Cardinals throws the ball against the Clemson Tigers at Cardinal Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

No. 8: Marshon Ford – H-back

Redshirt sophomore

  • 2019 stats: 13 starts, 20 rec, 292 yards, 7 TDs 
  • 2019 BRL ranking; Unranked

If you had Marshon Ford as a player who would fall in the top 25 on Louisville football’s roster in terms of overall impact, then you, my friend, could be classified as a football savant. More than likely, you probably hadn’t even heard of Ford at this time last season

The former walk-on out of Ballard high school was known to be a talented athlete in his high school days, but nobody outside of the program could have forsaw his skillset becoming valuable at the next level.

We were all wrong.

Praised by the new coaching staff upon arrival, placed on scholarship early on, and creating an unexpected early impact, Ford carved his way from completely unknown to one of the better tight ends in the ACC in a matter of months.

Hot: Game-by-game predictions for the 2020 season

Ford became the ACC’s leader in touchdown receptions by a tight end, and an invaluable blocker from the H-back position for the Cards in 2019, and his accomplishments are telling.

  • Started 13 games
  • Third on the team with 20 receptions for 292 yards and seven touchdowns
  • Averaged 14.6 yards per catch
  • Led the ACC tight ends with seven touchdowns
  • Caught two passes for 43 yards against Notre Dame
  • Tallied a pair of touchdowns on three catches and 26 yards versus Eastern Kentucky
  • Had a 48-yard reception at Florida State
  • Recorded three catches for 25 yards at Miami
  • Caught three passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns in the win at NC State
  • Finished with 17 yards on three catches with a touchdown against Syracuse, his third score in two games
  • Caught three passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the bowl win over Mississippi State.

That is a heck of a development for a player at a position that was seen as a weakness entering the season.

When the staff arrived, I vividly remember an interview with Scott Satterfield on the backside during Derby week where a reporter asked him about his concerns at tight  end, and Satt was basically like “nah, we’re good.” The staff recognized Ford’s talent from the jump and helped turn him into one of the most productive players on the team.

Ford was third on the team in receptions last season, and he will likely expand upon that role in 2020.

Also, just for fun… Here’s some video of Ford tearing it up at the 2018 LIT.

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