2. Elvis Dumervil, DE - 2005
Stat Line: 11 Total Tackles, 6 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles
The lone defensive entry on this list, Dumervil, posted one of the most incredible stat lines for a game in recent Louisville Football history. His six sacks played a huge role in stopping new Kentucky QB Andre Woodson and the UK offense. Louisville won this game 31-24 in a hard-fought matchup to start the 2005 season. Dumervil’s presence was felt all game, with him stepping up and making key defensive plays in critical moments.
It was a fantastic start for a massive season for Dumervil, which included an incredible 20 sacks. Dumervil would go on to win the Nagurski Award, which is awarded to college football’s top defensive player at the end of each season. This also established Dumervil as a prime defensive prospect for the NFL draft, where he was selected in the 4th round by the Denver Broncos and experienced great success.
Dumervil’s impact on the stellar defense, especially in the Governor’s Cup to open the season, gave Louisville the leader it needed to be successful. Louisville also finished the season 9-3, laying the foundation for the memorable 2006 season mentioned in the previous section.
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