4. Replacing departing stars & leaders
One of the keys to Louisville’s success last season was the star power and senior leadership present on both sides of the football. These two aspects are the cornerstone to a successful squad and could easily be the difference between hard-fought wins and laid-down losses, especially late in the season.
Last year’s offense was high-flying with the likes of Tyler Shough and Ja’Corey Brooks leading the way in the passing game. Senior transfer Miller Moss and returning starter wide receiver Chris Bell look to fill these voids for the Cardinals. Their leadership and performance on the field will be imperative to picking up where Shough and Brooks left off.
The defensive side of the ball also has a couple of massive holes to fill in new NFL stars Ashton Gillotte and Quincy Riley. However, Louisville will look to lean on newly arriving transfers to step into these roles. Defensive end Wes Bailey and cornerback Rodney Johnson have played the part left behind by these stars early for the Cards. Time will tell if these two can be the defensive leaders this team needs and answer many early question marks for the defense.
Related: 5 Louisville football players with the most to prove in 2025