Louisville football's Isaac Brown secures a spot on PFF top 5 returning RBs

Isaac Brown was named the second-best returning running back by Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus for the 2025 season.

Louisville football offense is expected to not only be one of the more explosive offense's in the ACC, but in the whole country. Last season, Cardinals offense was the only team in the entire country to score 24 points or more in every single game.

One of the big reasons for UofL dominant offense is their star RB, Isaac Brown. It is no secret Brown will be the main focus entering the 2025 season, despite bringing in Miller Moss from USC. All eyes will be on Brown, and that is one of the main reasons why he is already getting recognition in February.

Pro Football Focus named Isaac Brown in top 5 returning RBs nationally

Brown will be just a true sophomore next season, as in his freshman season he put the whole country on notice. Isaac Brown etched his name in Cardinal history books immediately, as he finished the season with 1,173 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns and averaged 7.1 yards per carry. He led the ACC in yards per carry, and was No. 24 in the nation in rushing yards, and third in the ACC.

""Brown wasn’t even among the top 40 running back recruits coming out of high school. The former three-star disproved that immediately and is now the runner-up for the title of “best running back in college football.” "

""He ran for 1,168 yards as a true freshman, the most of any returning Power Four tailback. Brown’s 7.2 yards per carry also led all Power Four running backs, returning or not. What he lacks in size (5-foot-9, 190 pounds) he makes up for with game-breaking speed and quickness.""

Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus

Brown was the first Louisville football freshman to rush for over 1,000 yards, and his impressive stats earned him a spot on Second-Team All-ACC. He also was the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the ACC Rookie of the year, and would be named Freshman All-American by PFF and 247Sports.

The only running back Chadwick put ahead of Brown was Notre Dame's, Jeremiyah Love. Entering the 2025 season it is a unanimous top three for returning running backs in Love, Brown, and Nicholas Singleton from Penn State. Love and Singleton are seen getting majority of attention, so it is nice for Cardinals fans to see Brown get a top-two vote from Chadwick.

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back out of Homestead, Fla. even would take it to the next level as he broke Lamar Jackson's true freshman rushing yards record at Louisville. It didn't stop there, he also would rush for 100-yards or more in five games last season which tied Jackson's true freshman record for UofL.