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Same faces, new places: Introducing the Louisville WR room

By Cameron Franck

Dec 17, 2022; Boston, MA, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (9) runs the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the first half at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2022; Boston, MA, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (9) runs the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the first half at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports /
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Players From the 2022 Season who are Returning Next Season

Last season with the Cardinals, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce recorded 365 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. The true junior comes into his third collegiate season with massive potential for a breakout season, especially with the newly installed air raid offense that Head Coach Jeff Brohm is famous for.

He was under-utilized in Scott Satterfield’s offense whose primary strategy is ground-and-pound, and when he did call passing plays, then Tyler Hudson was Malik Cunningham’s primary target. So, if anyone should be excited for the potential next season, it’s Huggins-Bruce.

Braden Smith suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2021-2022 season, so coming off of a brutal injury like that his production wasn’t as high as it could have been. Last season, he logged 215 receiving yards and only one touchdown.

But, due to his injury, he was granted a medical waiver to play for another year and will be a very important veteran presence on this roster for the upcoming season.

Chris Bell is returning for his sophomore season and ended up proving as a true freshman last season that he could be a potential star in the Louisville offense. He only netted 105 receiving yards last season, but some of those catches were in big moments or in key third down situations. So, having him back to help shepherd the freshman receivers will be an asset to this wide receiver corps.

Standing at an astounding 6-foot-6, the true freshman was not able to record any game time this past season. But, with a frame like that and time to develop in the new system, it could bring about very promising results. Now that he will be under the direction of new WIde Receivers Coach Garrick McGee, Morrow could turn into a breakout star in the coming year or so.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky and a graduate of Ballard High School, Elijah Downing originally committed to Murray State University coming out of high school in the Class of 2019. He was redshirted in his first season with the Racers and only caught one reception for 13 yards in four games played.

After just one season in Murray, Kentucky, Downing, along with his brother, decided to walk-on for their hometown school, the University of Louisville in the fall of 2020. During his time as a Cardinal, he has only recorded two receptions for 16 yards.

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