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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 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) /

No. 3 – Javian Hawkins – Running back

Redshirt sophomore

Last season was outr first chance to get to see what redshirt freshman Javian Hawkins was made of, and now, in 2020, it may be our final chance to see the rising third-year sophomore in a Cardinals uniform.

That’s how impressive of a showing Hawkins had in 2019, and how much we think of Hawkins going forward.

After an offseason where most expected Hassan Hall to be the starter in waiting up until the very first snap of the season, any questioning the coaching staff’s decision to start Hawkins went out the window during game one.

Hawkins was electric every time he had the ball in his hands last season, and though his skillset was raw at times, his strength, lateral quickness, and breakaway speed was eye-popping.

As the season progressed, Hawkins became an elite running back and a known name across the ACC, and took things to the level no running back had in school history. Here are some of the marks that Hawkins set in 2019:

  • Broke the Louisville running back rushing record
  • Set the Louisville single-game rushing record by a freshman
  • Became the first Louisville running back to rush for 1,000 yards since 2011
  • Rushed for the third-most yards by a freshman in ACC history
  • Snapped Clemson’s 27-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher
  • Had zero fumbles in 2019

Hawkins still has plenty of room to improve in 2020. He only tallied nine touchdowns last season, and still showed that he could stand to improve on patience and timing out of the backfield.

Perhaps the greatest area for improvement will be as a blocker. If Hawkins can navigate games better as a blocker, he could become a hell of a one-two punch with QB Micale Cunningham in the read-option game.

Additionally, Hawkins could become a true threat as a receiver out of the backfield- An area where he may project to be the most successful in the NFL.

Overall, Hawkins is already one of the best backs in school history, but his ceiling is so much higher than what he showed in 2019. That should excite Cards fans.

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