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Three months before the world shut down, then-Louisville head football coach Scott Satterfield signed 23 high school players on Dec. 18, 2019.
It could’ve been 25, but the Cardinals lost four-star quarterback Chubba Purdy and three-star defensive end Josh Griffis to Florida State.
Without the two, the recruiting class ranked 45th nationally and sixth in the ACC, according to 247Sports. Because of the pandemic, the young Cardinals didn’t have a normal introduction to college. There were more restrictions and rigorous health precautions. Louisville’s 2020 season was shortened to 11 games with only one nonconference contest. Players also were given an extra “COVID” year of eligibility because of the disruption.
Louisville finished 4-7 overall and 3-7 in the ACC. Statistically, Braden Smith was the most successful incoming freshman. He played in every game and was the third-leading receiver with 370 yards on 27 catches.
Four years later, Smith is with Satterfield at Cincinnati. Over the four years, 17 other players graduated or transferred, the bulk of whom left after the 2020 campaign. Seven of the 2020 signees were part of the Cardinals’ 10-win 2023 season. But two transferred during the offseason — defensive lineman Kam Wilson and safety Josh Minkins, both of whom are now also Bearcats — leaving five heading into the 2024 campaign.
Jared Dawson and Dez Tell have been key parts of Louisville’s defensive line rotation for the last two years. Last season, they totaled 14 and 20 tackles, respectively. Austin Collins stepped in to start at right tackle when Renato Brown sustained a season-ending knee injury last year and allowed only one sack over 578 snaps. Tight end Duane Martin logged only two catches for 27 yards last season, but his pass blocking grade ranked 28th on the team last fall, according to Pro…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/louisville-footballs-2020-covid-disrupted-091629541.html
Author : The Courier Journal
Publish date : 2024-06-14 09:16:29
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