QUARTERBACKS
As has been true in recent years, the
Cardinals enter the 2004 spring campaign
without a question mark at quarterback.
Stefan LeFors was an All-C-USA first team
selection, his first as a starter, throwing for
3,145 yards and 17 touchdowns. His 3,145
passing yards was the third best in school
history, while his touchdowns were tied for
ninth.
Stefan LeFors (ITV) |
The 6-0 left-hander rose from obscurity
to become the focal point of the Cardinal
attack. The native of Baton Rouge, La., led
the league in total offense (273.1 ypg) and
was second in passing efficiency (145.46).
But more importantly, LeFors completed 61.3
percent of his throws and tossed just 10
interceptions. Teamed with standout senior
wide receiver J.R. Russell, LeFors helps form
one of the most dynamic quarterback-receiver
combinations in the country.
LeFors also showed an ability to use his
legs to get out of trouble, setting the school
record for rushing yards for a quarterback,
running for 405 yards and three scores.
Sophomore Justin Rascati earned the
primary backup role as a red-shirt freshman
last season, playing in five games. He’s a
strong-armed accurate passer, who saw
limited action in 2003. Rascati completed 14-
of-24 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown.
He also rushed for 57 yards, including a 33-
yard touchdown scamper against UTEP.
RUNNING BACKS
This group will definitely be one of the
strengths of the 2004 squad and should be one
of the positions of interest as the spring
season unfolds.
The Cardinals return its top three rushers
who helped set the school mark for the most
rushing yards in a season (2,966). After
finishing near the bottom in the nation in
rushing in 2002, the Cardinals placed 10th in
the country with an average of 228.2 yards a
game. The trio of senior Lionel Gates, junior
Eric Shelton and sophomore Michael Bush
combined to run for 2,110 yards and 27
touchdowns.
Lionel Gates (ITV) |
Gates, a big, powerful runner with
breakaway speed, headlines a talented group
of backs. Gates led the Cardinals in rushing
with 817 yards and 11 touchdowns, and
averaged 5.8 yards a carry. In a possible
preview of things to come, Gates capped the
2003 season with an 88-yard touchdown run
and 128 yards in the bowl loss to Miami, and
also rushed for a career-best 140 yards and
four touchdowns in a 66-45 win over
Houston.
Shelton, in his first season with the
Cardinals after transferring from Florida State, was the power back for the Cardinals.
Despite missing three games with a neck
injury, the 6-3, 245-pounder still managed
790 yards and 10 scores. The native of
Lexington, Ky., recorded four 100-yard
games, including a 151-yard performance in
the season opener at Kentucky.
The wild card in the backfield is Bush,
who lined up at quarterback, wide receiver
and running back last season. Used mainly as
a running back late in the season, the
versatile Bush managed to run for 503
yards and six touchdowns and
averaged 6.2 yards a tote. Out of the
backfield, the former Mr. Kentucky
Football caught 17 passes for 240
yards and a touchdown.
With a mixture of power and
outstanding speed, Bush is one of the
top athletes on the team. He showcased
some of that ability last season,
running for 137 yards against Houston
and 125 versus Cincinnati, including
an 81-yard burst for a score against the
Bearcats.
Sophomore Kolby Smith is
another talented player that Petrino
must find time for in a crowded backfield.
Playing at the fullback position last season,
Smith ran for 131 yards and a touchdown and
averaged 7.3 yards a carry. He had surgery in
the offseason and will stay out of contact.
Red-shirt freshman Reggie Bradshaw
didn’t see game action last season, but is a
hard-runner with sprinter’s speed, who will
get a long look this spring.
D.J. Kamer and Smith split time at
fullback last season, but Kamer has graduated
and Smith will play more running back.
Senior Adam McCauley was moved to
fullback last season and will get a lot of reps
this season, while James Jackson, who
plahyed linebacker last season, will make the
move to offense this spring.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The Cardinals are blessed at wide receiver
with some of the best talent in the country.
Fortunate to have everyone back from last
season, the Cardinals add the likes of a major
college transfer and a top-flight red-shirt
freshman to a stable of outstanding pass
catchers. The Cardinals have so much talent
and depth at this position that the only
problem facing the coaching staff is figuring
out how to get so many talented athletes on
the field at once.
Senior J.R. Russell, an All-America
candidate, returns after posting one of the top
seasons in school history. The 6-3 senior
recorded 75 catches for a school-best 1,213
yards and eight touchdowns, closing the
season with three straight 100-yard games. He
ended the 2003 campaign with a sevencatch,
144-yard and three touchdown
performance against Miami in the bowl game.
Russell enters his final campaign with 113
catches for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns in
his remarkable career.
Senior Joshua Tinch is another talented
receiver, who looks to improve on disappointing
numbers last season. One of the fiercest
competitors on the team and never afraid to
make the tough catch over the middle, Tinch
caught 26 passes for 401 yards and a score.
He will miss spring practice due to his
commitments on the men’s basketball team.
Junior Broderick Clark hopes to use
this spring to get healthy and improve as a
wide receiver. Nagged by a high hamstring
injury last year, Clark caught 23 passes for
313 yards, but seemed to be slowed down late
in the year due to the injury. Clark, one of the
top kick returners in the conference, is healthy
again and hopes to regain his freshman form
that saw him rank in the top five nationally in
kickoff returns.
Petrino found a way last season to utilize
junior Robert Haskins into the offense, and
the 5-6 wideout didn’t disappoint. Arguably
one of the fastest players on the team, Haskins
made big plays, catching eight passes for 115
yards, but also rushed seven times for 93
yards, including a 64-yard touchdown run on
a reverse against Houston.
Senior Tiger Jones is a possession-type
receiver who has plenty of game experience
and has shown through the years that he’s
capable of making plays.
The Cardinals red-shirted a talented
group of wideouts in junior Montrell Jones
and red-shirt freshman Harry Douglas.
Jones transferred last year from Tennessee
and worked with the scout team. The
coaching staff is excited about getting Jones
out on the field with the first unit and getting
him involved in the offense.
As a freshman with the Volunteers,
Jones, caught 22 passes for 306 yards in
2002, and is an explosive, big-play receiver,
who will no doubt give the Cardinals one of
the deepest units in the league.
Douglas posseses sprinter-type speed and
owns great hands. He had a solid red-shirt
season, and is ready to fight for
playing time.
The big loss for the Cardinals
comes at tight end where four-time
All-C-USA performer Ronnie Ghent and Richard Owens have
graduated, leaving the Cardinals
with one tight end with game
experience in sophomore Wayne Riles. Used mainly in a blocking
role and in certain short-yardage
situations, Riles must be a factor
in the Cardinals precision passing
game.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The biggest question mark and problem
area for the Cardinals heading into the 2003
season was the offensive line. However, ask
the coaching staff what the biggest surprise
was, and they would say the offensive front.
After yielding 46 sacks in 2002, the
Cardinals front five allowed just 13. This
group also helped the Cardinals set the school
mark for rushing yards in a season and
average yards per carry (5.7).
The Cardinals lost two starters in the trenches in center Dan Koons and guard Jerry Spencer, and will have to make some changes this spring.
However, the good news is the Cardinals have two All-Conference performers on the line to build upon. Junior weak tackle Travis Leffew and junior Jason Spitz each earned second team All-C-USA honors and are two of the most talented linemen in the league.
Leffew has made 26 straight starts and is one
of the most athletic linemen on the squad.
Spitz has started 14 straight at weak guard
and is one of the toughest and most skilled
players upfront.
The other returning starter is also a solid
player in sophomore Renardo Foster. At 6-6,
Foster is a mammouth specimen who made a
successful transition to the offensive side of
the football to start 13 games at tackle. A
former defensive tackle, Foster was named to
the All-C-USA Freshman squad.
Junior Kurt Quarterman, who weighs
in at 360 pounds, will take over at strong
guard and junior Bubba Marshall will also
compete there for playing time. Junior-college
transfer Jeremy Darveau is another 300-
pounder who’ll get time at tackle, but could
other positions if needed.
Former offensive guard Will Rabatin
will move this spring to the center position
after spending most of his career at guard.
Rabatin is a technically-sound lineman and
will compete with sophomore P.J. Tavarczky
for the starting nod this spring. Red-shirt
freshman Danny Barlowe is a hard worker
and will likely backup Spitz at the weak
guard.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line lost just one player on the
line in defensive tackle Scott Lopez and have
a great deal of talent and potential upfront,
and could be a much improved unit.
Heading this group is senior defensive
end Marcus Jones, one of the top pass
rushers in Conference USA. Jones, a second
team All-Conference honoree, led the team in
sacks with 10 and had 17 tackles for loss.
Jones is a high-energy player who provides
relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Jones was fifth on the team in tackles with 62
and could be in for a big season in new
defensive coordinator Mike Cassity’s scheme.
Junior Elvis Dumervil is an athletic defensive
end who is coming off a 28-tackle season and
could be even better as he enters the spring.
He also added six tackles for loss and two
sacks. Chad Rimpsey played in a reserve role
in 2003, but is expected to be a consistent
performer along the line this year. Playing in
12 games, Rimpsey registered 23 tackles and
two tackles for loss. Red-shirt freshman
Shane Bailey is a gifted youngster who
expects to compete for playing time and will
use this spring to learn the defensive system.
Senior Bobby Leffew will also be at tackle,
but will likely miss spring drills due to
offseason surgery. Converted tight end Chad
Jorgensen is a quick rusher off the edge and
should use the spring to continue his
development.
Junior Montavious Stanley, who started
the year at defensive end, was moved to
defensive tackle in the bowl game and will
likely stay there for spring practice. The 6-4,
290-pounder might be more efficient inside
with his size and speed.
Senior Tyrone Saterfield needs to
rebound from a disappointing second half of
the year. At 311 pounds, Saterfield could be a
major factor upfront to reverse the fortunes of
the Cardinal defense. Last season, Saterfield
recorded 31 tackles and four tackles for loss,
and failed to record a sack.
Sophomore Amobi Okoye, who was the
youngest player in football last season, will be
a player to watch this spring. Having had a
full season and a winter workout session, the
6-1, 317-pounder could be a player to watch
out for after a year of maturity. Playing in 13
games, Okoye tallied 17 tackles playing
limited time.
LINEBACKERS
If Louisville is going to improve this
year on defense, the Cardinals need the
linebackers to step up and have a big season.
This unit lost one senior starter in Rod Day,
but returns two other starters in senior Robert McCune in the middle and junior Brandon Johnson at outside linebacker.
McCune, a third team All-C-USA
selection, posted a career-high 143 tackles in
13 games. He posted eight games of 10 or
more tackles, including 19 in an overtime loss
to USF. McCune is one of the strongest and
fastest players on the squad, and will need to
have another big year for the Cardinals.
Johnson’s a tall-lanky backer who was
used a lot as an outside rusher a year ago. He
recorded 50 tackles, but was also third on the
team in sacks with three.
The weakside linebacker spot will be
wide open with a pair of youngsters competing
for time this spring. Sophomore
Deriontae Taylor was a factor last season on
special teams as a freshman, but will get a
long look this spring to win a job at linebacker.
The coaches are extremely high on
converted quarterback and red-shirt freshman
Preston Smith. Recruited to play quarterback,
Smith was moved to linebacker midway
through the season and will see a lot of
action this spring. Senior Jonathan
Jackerson and red-shirt freshmen Willie Johnson and Matt Sanders will use this
spring to compete for playing time next fall.
SECONDARY
Louisville boasts a solid nucleus in the
secondary with three starters returning to the
lineup.
Senior Antoine Harris, who converted from wide receiver last season, emerged early in the season and played well in his first go round on defense. Boasting excellent speed, Harris posted 51 tackles, had six pass breakups and tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. Still learning the position, Harris will benefit from having a full spring at that position and could be ready to emerge at this spot when fall camp begins.
Sophomore William Gay received a lot
of experience last season and has the potential
to be a dominant corner for the Cards for the
next three seasons. The native of Tallahassee,
Fla., played in 11 games, including four as a
starter, recording 33 tackles and one interception.
Transfer Antoine Sharp, who worked
out at wide receiver last year, will make the
switch to corner this spring. An excellent
athlete with good speed, Sharp could throw
his name in the mix and add depth to this unit
with a good spring. Sophomore Gavin Smart
opened the season as a starter, but played
mainly in nickel situations after suffering a
shoulder injury that cost him his starting
position. Playing in nine games, Smart
recorded 17 tackles, but helped the Cardinals
open the season on a positive note by
returning an interception 41 yards that helped
set up a Cardinal touchdown in a 40-24 win
over Kentucky. Smart will likely miss spring
practice due to injury. Senior J.T. Haskins is
a valuable special teams player, but also filled
in on nickel and dime situations a year ago.
Red-shirt freshman Early McCray is also
someone to keep an eye on this spring. A
talented youngster from Douglas, Ga.,
McCray is an intriguing prospect and has the
potential to step right in and be a very solid
cover cornerback.
Safety was a big question mark for the
Cardinals heading into the 2003 season with
youth and experience fogging up the picture.
In 2004, this group looks to be pretty solid
with both starters returning and a key player
returning from an injury.
Senior Brent Johnson emerged last season, leading the club in tackles with a career-best 116 stops. A hard hitter, Johnson closed the year in impressive fashion, averaging 14.0 tackles in the last four games, including 14 in the loss to Miami. Johnson was also third on the team with eight tackles for loss and also added four pass breakups.
Senior Kerry Rhodes posted a careerhigh
82 tackles in his first season as a starter.
Rhodes recorded three interceptions, returning
one for a touchdown. Rhodes, at 6-3, is a big
target in the secondary and had a solid year.
Sophomore Abe Brown is built in the
same mold as Rhodes and could see more
action this year, especially on special teams.
Brown played sparingingly in
2003, but will need a good spring
to crack the rotation.
Red-shirt freshman Malik Jackson is a hardhitting
strong safety that the coaching staff expects big things from in 2004. Jackson showed on the scout team last season that he’ll deliver a big hit on anyone, and is expected to be a factor this spring
for playing time. Junior Jon Gannon is another talented player, who is trying to rebound from injuries. Gannon sat out all of last year, but will go full go this spring to see where he is physically. If healthy, Gannon’s toughness and knowledge of the game will be a welcome addition in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Cardinals will have to replace one of the school’s and conference’s top placekickers with the graduation of Nate Smith. Spring practice will be an open competition for the kicking job between four players with no game experience.
Arthur Carmody is an untested youngster who red-shirted last season, but has plenty of potential. Carmody is an All-State performer who is one of the team’s most accurate kickers, and will use the spring to garmer much-needed experience.
Todd Flannery is another player with potential, and will get a long look this spring. Flannery is valuable because he can kickoff, kick field goals and handle the punting chores. Rob Zarrilli is also in the mix, which will create a competitive battle this spring.
Sophomore Brent Moody will resume
his duties at punter after a solid first season.
Kicking in 12 games, Moody averaged 39.5
yards a punt and placed 12 inside the 20-yard
line. Flannery will also compete at punter this
spring.
Broderick Clark will continue his role at kick
returner. Slowed by injuries last season, Clark’s numbers dipped to 19.5 yards a return after finishing second in the nation in that category in 2002.
Douglas, Montrell Jones, Bush, Bradshaw, Gates and Antoine Sharp will each get a look returning kicks this spring.
Robert Haskins took over the punt retun
duties and did a solid job, averaging 7.7 yards
a return. Petrino and his staff will also look at
Montrell Jones, Gay, Harris and Douglas this
spring as punt returners.