Louisville football is set to hire two-time Super Bowl champion and former Louisville wide receiver star, Deion Branch, as their new wide receivers coach.
Deion Branch was the director of player development for past three season, but will be promoted and will replace Garrick McGee, who went and joined Bill Belichick at North Carolina.
Branch is now set to take control and lead this wide receiver class that is supposed to be one of best in country as it includes Caullin Lacy, Chris Bell, and transfer portal additions in T.J. McWilliams and Bobby Golden.
Bell was second on the team in receiving yards last year with 737 receiving yards on 43 catches and Lacy was limited to an injury last season but the year prior he 91 catches for 1,316 yards and seven touchdowns.
Louisville football strikes gold with new wide receiver hire
Louisville football finished their 2024 season 9-4 and secured their third consecutive season with eight wins or more, and their second consecutive year of nine wins or more.
The Cardinals offense was ranked in the top 20 in the nation averaging 450 yards per game, and was top 10 in points per game averaging 36.5 points per game. UofL was the only school to score 24 points or more in every game this season.
Branch played for UofL back in 2000 and 2001,as he had a jaw-dropping first season with the Cardinals, securing 1,016 receiving yards on 71 catches. He followed that up impressive season, by doing even better with 1,188 yards with 72 catches. Not only did he lead Louisville to its program first 11-win season and repeat as Conference USA champion, but he shattered records along the way. He is top 10 in both receiving yards, and recieving touchdowns in program history.
His receiving yards of 2,204 yards is ranked seven in program history and and his 18 touchdowns are No. 4 in Cardinals history. Branch was a second round pick by Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Branch won his first Super Bowl with the Patriots and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX after securing 11 catches for 133 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.
He played 11 seasons in the NFL where he hauled in 518 receptions for 6,644 yards and 39 touchdowns in his tenure with the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.
Louisville football ended the season on a high note, as they secured their ninth win of the season in a tight victory over Washington Huskers in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Louisville football season will kickoff against Eastern Kentucky, Saturday Aug. 30 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.