College athletics today are very much a “year-to-year” business. The old model of players committing to a school for three or four years is long gone, replaced by the transfer portal and NIL deals that reshape rosters each offseason. For programs in the Power Four, the challenge isn’t just recruiting anymore — it’s rebuilding and maintaining depth every single year in order to compete for conference championships and College Football Playoff berths.
Louisville football is no exception. The Cardinals lost major production on both sides of the ball after the 2024 season. Head coach Jeff Brohm entered the offseason with plenty on his plate after seeing quarterback Tyler Shough, wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, and star edge rusher Ashton Gillotte depart.
It wasn’t an easy rebuild, and while expectations remain high, questions still linger about who will step up. Brohm and his staff reloaded heavily through the transfer portal, and the roster has the potential for breakout performers almost anywhere. New quarterback Miller Moss is the obvious centerpiece — the USC transfer will ultimately dictate just how far this team can go — but the Cards’ 2025 season may hinge even more on these five position groups.
5 Positions That Will Make or Break Louisville Football’s 2025 Season
5. Running Back
In 2024, Isaac Brown quickly separated himself from the rest of Louisville’s backfield. Filling the shoes of Jawhar Jordan, Brown became the first true freshman in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He did it on just 165 carries — nearly 100 more than Duke Watson, who finished second on the team with 67.
If Louisville is going to reach its potential in 2025, it will need a more balanced rushing attack. Brown proved he can handle a heavy workload, but Brohm would prefer to rotate backs more often, keeping legs fresh into November and December.
With a new quarterback learning the system, a reliable run game is crucial. Sustaining drives and staying ahead of the chains will ease Moss into games, especially against tough ACC defenses. As the old saying goes: “A quarterback’s best friend is a strong run game.” For the Cards, that starts with the running back room living up to its potential week after week.
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4. Defensive Backs
Louisville’s 2024 defense had plenty of struggles, and the secondary was one of the biggest culprits. The group gave up too many explosive plays and managed just seven interceptions across the entire season. To make matters worse, three of the four players responsible for those picks are gone.
Brohm wasted no time replenishing the backfield through the portal. Transfers JoJo Evans Jr., Corey Gordan, Rodney Johnson Jr., and Jabari Mack are all new faces who bring proven playmaking ability. Combined, they recorded 8 interceptions, 116 tackles, and 20 pass deflections last year at their respective schools.
That influx of experience should make this one of the most improved units on the roster. If the 2025 Cardinals want to reduce points allowed and avoid being carved up through the air, this group will need to make plays on the ball and limit opposing quarterbacks’ rhythm.
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3. Defensive Line
The defensive line also lost a large share of its 2024 production. Most notably, Ashton Gillotte, the team’s leading pass rusher, departed for the NFL after racking up 26.5 career sacks. He was drafted in the third round by the Kansas City Chiefs. Veteran leaders Ramon Puryear, Tramel Logan, Jared Dawson, and Thor Griffith also moved on, leaving Brohm with a major hole to fill in the trenches.
Louisville addressed the need with an aggressive transfer haul. Wesley Bailey, Justin Beadles, Denzel Lowry, Clev Lubin, and Jerry Lawson all join returning upperclassman Jordan Guerad in what should be a deep, competitive room.
Lubin is the headline addition, coming off a breakout year at Coastal Carolina, where he totaled 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. With this level of depth, the Cards have the pieces to rotate effectively, keep players fresh, and apply consistent pressure up front. For Louisville’s defense to return to form, it has to start with the defensive line controlling the line of scrimmage.
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2. Linebackers
If there’s one unit Brohm doesn’t have to completely rebuild, it’s the linebackers. Louisville returns its top two tacklers, both of whom bring production and leadership.
Stanquan Clark had a breakout 2024 season, leading the team with 43 solo tackles. He also added two interceptions and two forced fumbles, showcasing his versatility as a true do-it-all defender. T.J. Quinn paced the defense with 82 total tackles and chipped in 1.5 sacks.
Having both Clark and Quinn in the middle of the field gives the defense stability. Their experience allows them to set the tone, communicate coverages, and keep younger players in the right spots. If the Cardinals’ defense is going to improve, the linebackers’ consistency will be a big reason why.
Related: Floor, ceiling, and prediction for Louisville in 2025: Can the Cardinals win the ACC?
1. Wide Receivers
The position with the biggest question mark — and the most potential to decide Louisville’s season — is wide receiver.
The loss of Ja’Corey Brooks looms large. The Alabama transfer delivered exactly what fans expected in 2024, finishing with 61 receptions, 1,013 yards, and nine touchdowns. His chemistry with Shough was so effective it landed both in the NFL.
The issue was depth. Brooks carried much of the load because Caullin Lacy was injured for large stretches of the year. Without that 1–2 punch, Louisville often leaned heavily on Brooks alone.
This fall, things should look different. Both Lacy and Chris Bell return, and Moss will bring a new dimension to Brohm’s passing attack. If Bell and Lacy stay healthy, Louisville could have a far more balanced air game.
Brohm also dipped into the transfer market, bringing in Dacari Collins, Bobby Golden, and Treyshun Hurry. Rather than relying on one superstar like Brooks, this year’s unit will likely replace his production by committee. If Moss builds chemistry quickly with this group, the passing attack could be just as effective — if not more versatile — than last year’s.