Big Red Louie
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 26
Next
Louisville football defensive end makes tackle of QB
SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Tabarius Peterson #98 of the Louisville Cardinals sacks Eric Dungey #2 of the Syracuse Orange during the first quarter at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

No. 20: Ja’Darien Boykin – Defensive end

Freshman

  • 2018 stats (HS senior, 52 tackles, 22 TFL, 13 sacks 
  • 2019 BRL Ranking: (Not eligible, not enrolled)

Pass-rush. Pass-rush. Pass-rush.

Louisville needs help desperately along their defensive line and front seven creating a consistent and disruptive pass rush.

That’s where freshman Ja’Darien Boykin figures to make a massive difference in 2020 and beyond.

Originally the highest-ranked member of the 2019 class, Boykin failed to qualify last season. Still, the Louisville staff worked with him and their patience paid off, allowing him to enroll and be eligible for the 2020 season.

Boykin was the highest-ranked player of the class for a reason. He is a pass-rush specialist with a penchant for getting after the quarterback with a relentless pursuit for the ball.

It seems unlikely that Boykin will be in a starting role in 2020, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make a huge difference.

At 6’0,” 250-plus Boykin is a menace on the edge and uses explosiveness off the line and a high motor to get free into the backfield in a hurry.

I could see Boykin playing 2-3 downs a drive and coming in on passing downs to be a set of fresh legs to put pressure in the quarterback. That’s something Louisville desperately needed last year, and could be a complete game-changer in terms of continuity on the Cardinals defense.

Louisville’s additional depth on the defensive line will serve to benefit everyone condition-wise, allow the secondary to play the ball a bit more aggressively, and bring an overall cohesiveness to a position that has been desperate for help.

Home/Louisville Football