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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 – SEPTEMBER 21: Tackle Mekhi Becton #73 of the Louisville Cardinals during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 21, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Cardinals 35 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 21: Tackle Mekhi Becton #73 of the Louisville Cardinals during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 21, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Cardinals 35 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

No. 19: Cole Bentley – Center

Senior

Protect. Protect. Protect.

Much like Louisville football needs guys like Ja’Darien Boykin to step up and provide a more productive pass-rush, Dwayne Ledford is also in need of protecting his star quarterback from said pass-rush from opposing defenses. A big part of that will fall on Cole Bentley who will be entering his final season as a Cardinal.

Last season Louisville struggled mightily with protecting Micale Cunningham and Evan Conley, especially in their five losses. The offensive line gave up a total of 39 sacks through the 13 games the Cards played in with 24 of those coming in losses to Notre Dame, Florida State, Clemson, Miami, and Kentucky.

Against bigger, more athletic and more powerful teams Louisville’s offensive line struggled a lot of that came from inside rather than outside with Mekhi Becton and Tyler Haycraft.

Dwayne Ledford talked a little bit this offseason about his offensive line, and Bentley in particular, praising him for his improvement and expressing excitement for his senior year. Ledford said:

"“I think that he’s ready to have a really big season…He’s putting a lot of great work in. “He’s very athletic. Coming here we kind of knew that Cole what type of athlete that he was. It’s just learning the position and just getting more and more comfortable with it. I think Cole was having a very good spring. I love the way Cole finished the season last year.”"

Louisville’s interior offensive line struggled the most with pass protection last season, oftentimes overwhelmed by the size, athleticism, and power of players at traditional programs like Florida State, Clemson, and Notre Dame.

After sharing the center spot with graduate transfer TJ McCoy, Bentley eventually won that position outright and played pretty dang well down the stretch. This season the center position will be his, unless an unexpected injury takes place, and his chemistry with Cunningham and the entire offensive line is a huge benefit for Ledford and company.

Bentley has improved every single season and this year he has the chance to take a big leap and become an NFL caliber lineman. If he does that, Louisville’s offensive will benefit significantly and it will allow Cunningham and the receivers more time to connect.

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