1. Isaac Brown, RB
This one almost goes without explanation. Isaac Brown has looked every bit like one of the nation’s best running backs when healthy, and ironically, missing a few games this season may have saved Louisville from a bidding war in the Transfer Portal.
He was on pace for another 1,000-yard season before the injury, and Louisville was 7–1 in the eight games he played. In the 14 games where Brown has received at least 10 carries, the Cardinals are 11–3 over the last two seasons. Brown has logged 91 carries for 782 yards, including 448 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the last three games he played.
His career average of 7.6 yards per carry — on more than 250 attempts — shows how vital he is to the offense. Quite simply, Louisville goes as Isaac Brown goes. With one more year before he’s draft-eligible, retaining him is the single most important task for Brohm this offseason. Any path back to national relevance begins with Brown anchoring the offense in 2026.