A position group that many fans have their eyes on entering the 2025 season is the Cardinals' defensive line. Louisville football lost crucial pieces from last season as they lost All-American edge rusher Ashton Gillotte to the Kansas City Chiefs, and then were gut-wrenched by players who they expected to step up, like Jared Dawson, Woo Spencer, and Mason Reiger.
However, Jeff Brohm's defensive line is quickly turning heads early on in fall camp, and the vibe around the locker room is that this position might not be as weak as some may think. ESPN reported that this was the Cardinals' biggest weakness heading into the 2025 season, but after the first week or so of fall camp, the defensive line is proving they can compete and hold their ground.
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Louisville’s DL is blowing expectations out of the water
Louisville's defensive line coach, Mark Hagen, recently was one of the coaches who were available to the media for questions, and he quickly brought up a few names that have stood out to him early in fall camp. Hagen quickly brought up Wesley Bailey, Micah Carter, and Justin Beadles in his press conference, and they are "battling" as Bailey is "the first guy," and Carter and Beadles are continuing to make a name for themselves and earn Hagen's trust.
While many believe the Louisville defensive line to be a significant weakness on this roster heading into next season, Hagen is here telling everyone it is much deeper than everyone thinks. He claimed he believes he has six starters, and Carter and Beadles are "not far off."
"We've got guys that are maybe technically number two right now, but they're close. They're on these guys' heels," Hagen stated. "The competition is a coach's best friend."
Hagen went on to state that the Cardinals' defensive line is providing "daily competition" and is trying to light a spark in this group. That high-energy competition that is day in and day out is making this unit stronger and blowing any expectation that was set out the water.
He was completely upfront with the Cardinals DL, telling them that no starting job is locked right now, and that uncertainty of who is their No. 1 guys is making everyone better and pushing everyone to their limits.
"I told our guys from the outset, there's nobody good enough in this room to just show up and think that they've got the job for the rest of season." Hagen stated. "You got to bring it every day."
One of Hagen's preaching points is to play with violence and to dominate the line. Louisville has shown flashes this fall camp that they can live up to Hagen's expectations and have more depth than some may realize. This DL room is exceeding everyone's expectations early into fall camp, and these newcomers must keep pushing each other, making the whole DL room better.
With the Cardinals being just as inexperienced in the defensive back room, it will be crucial for the Louisville front line to provide pressure and disrupt the opposing team's quarterback. Louisville's defense has a standard to live up to, and last year, it fell short of it.
The Cardinals gave up 24 points per game and 27 points per game in ACC play. Hagen's defensive line will be Louisville's biggest X-factor heading into 2025, and if the Cardinals want to beat Carson Beck's Miami Hurricanes and Cade Klubnik's Clemson Tigers, then this defensive line must continue to play violent football and keep this high intensity up until Aug. 30 against Eastern Kentucky.
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