Louisville Football is coming off an 8-4 regular season that was capped off with a 35-34 win in the Sun Bowl against the Washington Huskies. It was an overall successful season, with its share of ups and downs, that coach Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals look to build upon this year.
With Louisville playing in the ACC title game in 2023 and being in the mix for the ACC title game late last season, expectations are high for this team, as well as the goals they could achieve. The Cardinals had an active offseason, which included key additions and departures on both sides of the football.
3 Cardinals with legitimate breakout potential for Louisville Football in 2025
Louisville must now lean on new rising stars after losing multiple key starters from last season. With the season just a month away, here are three players who look to step into these roles and provide breakout performances for this year’s Louisville Cardinals squad.
3. Wes Bailey, DE
Wes Bailey is coming off a season that was cut short due to injuries in 2024 while playing for Rutgers. However, Bailey showed promise in his four years at Rutgers, including posting the second-highest sack total in the 2023 season for the Scarlet Knights.
With his career 9.5 sacks and after plenty of reps during the spring, the senior Bailey looks to come in and be a leader on the defensive line, especially at the end position. It will be crucial that Bailey and the rest of the defensive line apply pressure to the opposing quarterback, aiming to secure much-needed sacks and force turnovers.
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