25 predictions for Louisville football in 2021
Ladies and gentlemen we’ve made it.
I’m not really one for speeches. That’s not really my thing.
“Yes it is, what are you talking about?”
“You always give speeches.”
But I’m feeling pretty good right now. A lot better than I was yesterday (if yesterday was right after the end of 2020 when Louisville went 4-7 after people predicted they could compete for an ACC Championship appearance and then Scott Satterfield interviewed *or didn’t* for the South Carolina job and a bunch of coaches and transfers left an…)
“that’s the toast?”
No, here’s my toast. I think this whole thing with Scott Satterfield and Louisville is gonna work out. I have a very good feeling about it.
“Jacob, you’re not making a toast. You’re just saying things you’re thinking out loud?”
Here’s my toast. The Lord’s beer is in here *Points to Cardinal Stadium draft beer that cost just north of $8* And like Louisville it has questionable alcohol by volume and it is good.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Just because you have liquid that doesn’t make it a toa…”
HERE’S THE TOAST. Everybody raise your beer and bourbon containers. To us and to Louisville football.
*Takes sip and immediately teleports to predicting Louisville football will go 12-0 and win the national championship* Ahhh, that is expensive… Anyways, here are 25 REALISTIC *cough, Darrell Bird* predictions entering the season.
In no particular order:
1. Scott Satterfield does enough to re-earn the trust of the fanbase
To me, this all centers around three things:
1.) Winning more than 4 games (because duh. Probably needs to be in the 6-8 range)
2.) Playing entertaining offense (keep games close and have big plays)
3.)The defense becoming one of the best in the ACC
All three happen in my mind. I’ve got Louisville winning more than 6 games, finishing in the top half of the ACC (and nation) in total offense, and climbing into the top 5 defenses in the ACC. Like it or not a winning season just about guarantees Satterfield staying long-term, and that is 100% the best thing for the program.
2. Kei’Trel Clark is an All-American
Clark’s analytics were off the charts in 2020. The only thing holding him back from First-Team All-ACC was the lack of interceptions. This year he finishes with more than 4 and closely replicates his cover stats from 2020, which earns him some big-time honor. Is he Jaire Alexander 2.0? We’ll find out this season but he’s got the ability to become a shut-down corner.
3. Louisville’s defensive line struggles against Ole Miss & Central Florida
The defensive line has the depth needed to become dangerous but it’s still going to be a work in progress. No one produced more than 1 sack last season, and despite a full offseason, there’s no guarantee that’ll improve right away. Against Ole Miss and UCF, I expect some bumps as they try and nail down their final rotation (up to 8-10 guys could see the field) against two of the top offenses in college football. Going head-to-head with Ole Miss, they’ll battle against four and five-star players all over 6’4, 6’5, 300+ pounds. Yaya Diaby, Ramon Puryear, Dayna Kinnaird, Tabarius Peterson, Jacques Turner, Malik Clark, Dez Tell, and others all on paper looked poised to be better but they’ll have to prove it. Good thing I think they will (just wait).
4. Malik Cunningham throws more than 5 but less than 12 INTs
A lot has been made of Cunningham’s turnovers from last season, and deservedly so. 12 picks and countless fumbles cost the Louisville football program opportunities to win games. How much better he is at taking care of the ball will directly correlate in some form or fashion to the total improvement of the team. Louisville will run the ball a lot this year but still expect plenty of action throwing the football. The offensive line will be much improved, meaning more time and likely fewer picks, but still enough opportunities for some mistakes. Overall when the season is over I think the narrative changes on Cunningham, but he still throws more picks than he did in 2019. Connecting with receivers not named Dez & Tutu will take time and could come at a cost (potentially interceptions). However, having his trusty weapon Marshon Ford along with speed demons like Tyler Harrell and Jordan Watkins, Cunningham could and probably will exceed expectations; and win the turnover battle. Cunningham’s approach to improvement has been extremely interesting but I think the film watching and comfort/confidence with the offensive scheme will pay off.
5. Louisville loses to Ole Miss in heartbreaking fashion
There will be a couple of Ole Miss-themed predictions in this piece, so let’s get this one out of the way first. A matchup against an SEC team never comes easy, regardless of the opponent. Louisville is 4-6 overall against SEC schools since the year 2015, with losses coming against Kentucky x3, Alabama, Mississippi State, LSU, and Auburn, This year they’ll face a new foe looking for a signature win. Unfortunately, they’ll come up just short. In fact, I predict in a high school affair, they’ll lose on a game-winning field goal by Ole Miss as time expires. It will be brutal in real-time but by the completion of the 2021 schedule, we’ll look back and remember that game setting the tone for the season. 41-38 Ole Miss
6. Yasir Abdullah becomes a household name
I would say the average fan doesn’t know much about Yasir Abdullah. That changes this season. The dude has always been a physical freak of nature just needing the opportunity to ball. He got that late in the season last year, becoming one of the most productive defensive players. That will extend into 2021, as Abdullah will make some of the nastiest plays on defense this season on way to becoming a consistent threat. His pass-rush, hitting power, and overall football instincts will help him finish as an All-ACC player and a household name in Louisville.
7. Louisville Twitter melts down over first down playcalling by halftime of game one
We all know Satterfield loves running on first down. We also know some Louisville fans are still in their feelings. It won’t take long for the bourbon to sink in and things to feel like normal as Twitter’s best make a coaching change before the first quarter ends. 2021 is going to be a disaster on the bird app, that may be the only thing I get right all season.
8. Louisville won’t have a 1,000 yard rusher or receiver
What? How? Noooo…. That would mean less than six wi… Let me stop you right there. This team is deep at the skill positions and will be just fine post-Dez Fitzpatrick, Tutu Atwell, and Javian Hawkins. Instead of just one bell-cow back this season, Satterfield will have three guys who could all demand serious snaps starting with Jalen Mitchell. If Hassan Hall is healthy, he easily could be a 750-900 yard back and freshman Trevion Cooley is a guy that Satterfield described as having “serious burst.” Super senior Maurice Burkley, transfer Jahwar Johnson, walk-on Gregory Desrosiers will also factor in at the back end of the rotation. This group could be better than last year and that’s saying something when you lose a 1,200-yard rusher. Did you hear how excited Satterfield is about “who’s gonna get these balls?”
On the State of Louisville: Tyler Harrell taking advantage of opportunities
Albeit less experienced, this year’s receiver unit has everything you could ask for. Speed (Tyler Harrell was clocked at 4.2 this summer in the 40-yard dash), size, versatility, scheme fit, and playmaking ability. Look for Jordan Watkins, Harrell, Justin Marshall, Braden Smith, Shai Werts, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, and others to be improved enough to help keep the offense moving forward. Oh and don’t forget about Marshon Ford. The staff has hinted at him being a “go-to guy” all offseason. Speaking of which…
9. Marshon Ford emerges as premier ACC tight end
I tried to tell people after 2019 that Marshon Ford was quickly emerging as a potential NFL-caliber player. Despite being slightly undersized for the tight end position, the former walk-on showed incredible potential as he led the ACC in touchdowns at TE. Injury prevented him from building on that last season, still, we saw a ton of great moments. Now healthy and prepared to become the go-to guy for Malik Cunningham, Ford has the potential to become the ACC’s top tight end, assuming he develops into a down-the-field receiving threat. This may be a bit of a hot take but if he’s on the field, Ford is going to 1) knock your head off 2) catch the football 3) find the endzone. I’ve got him First-Team All-ACC and the team’s leader in receiving touchdowns. He’s also got some dope gear you should buy.
10. Louisville loses and wins a game it shouldn’t
Ole Miss? Clemson? Kentucky? Wake Forest? Syracuse? FSU? Duke? I’m not sure I’m ready to go out on a limb and say Louisville football knocks off Ole Miss but I do think this is the year they pull off an upset as an underdog. Clemson is more vulnerable than ever and has been susceptible to that one game every year. Could it be the Cards in 2021? Ole Miss has a great offense but are we sure the defense is going to be able to stop big plays? Kentucky isn’t a program defining win by any means but they are an SEC school, the program’s biggest rival, and the current owner of a 2 game win streak. On the other hand, somewhere along the way, we will probably see a clunker. Wake Forest, Syracuse, Duke, and FSU are the schools I think that Louisville will be favored but could lose if they aren’t careful. Louisville gets to 8 wins this year overall but they do so by pulling off an upset and dropping a dud against a underdog ACC squad.
11. A local ad with a UofL player will air right after said player makes a mistake
With the emergence of NIL agreements, it is highly likely that Louisville players will be featured in local commercials. One caveat to that is that the players with the most facetime on TV are only human and prone to mistakes. It’s going to feel really odd when Jack Fagot gets mossed on and then pops up 30 seconds later in a Dave’s Towing commercial.
12. Scott Satterfield will call a better game than Lane Kiffin
Remember when I predicted Louisville to lose at the buzzer? This prediction will make that sting even worse. Lane Kiffin is considered an offensive guru and with good reason. However, Satterfield has a reputation for putting his teams in a position to win as the underdog- Especially in season-openers. Louisville football is likely going to want to dominate time of possession against the Rebels, keep the clock moving, and make it an ugly defensive battle. Is Ole Miss a one-trick pony? We will find out soon enough. Regardless, I expect one of the best-called games we’ve seen yet from Satterfield.
13. A Louisville defender does a Tik-Tok dance after sacking Will Levis
UK quarterback eats bananas weirdly and he is also a very poor Tik-Tok dancer. Louisville players will likely have taken note.
14. Incliment weather impacts more than one game
The only thing more difficult to predict than a Louisville football season is the weather. With that being said, this is the first season in a long time where Louisville doesn’t play any road/ neutral games in Miami, Boston College, or a similarly difficult environment. Two seasons ago, the Cards struggled to deal with the rain and sloppy track in Coral Gables. Multiple ACC seasons have already seen the Cardinals braving single-digit weather in Chestnut Hill. Louisville football famously beat Florida State in hurricane-like conditions. In year one under Steve Kragthorpe, the Cards recorded their largest upset loss ever to Syracuse in 100+ degree temps. One season, Charlie Strong’s squads nearly floated away at Southern Miss and at FIU. During the 2-10 Petrino-coached season, the Cards survived multiple weather delays and a brief scare from Indiana State. Weather almost always impacts Louisville’s season, so in a year where the Cards don’t have any travel to severe climates and in a season where we are aching to return to tailgating normalcy, it only makes sense that something crazy is going to happen.
15. Louisville has multiple special teams touchdowns
It is no secret that Louisville has a true weapon in Hassan Hall on kick-off returns. Now, add in Syracuse transfer Jawhar Jordan, who is another multifaceted speedster in the backfield, and you have a recipe for a pretty nasty kick-off return team. We also saw over his first two seasons that Satt Daddy is not afraid to pull some rabbits out of hats on punt and field goal units. It feels like a no-brainer that Louisville’s special teams is going to be the best it’s been under Satterfield.
16. Louisville’s kicking game positively impacts the season
Speaking of great special teams, Louisville football appears to have solidified itself once again in the kicking game. Sophomore James Turner connected on 13-of-15 attempts last season with a long of 50 yards. He has NFL accuracy and range. Additionally, Louisville made a fascinating addition in Australian punter Mark Vassett. At 6’4,” 215-pounds, Vassett is a 24-year-old freshman with a ridiculous leg. The downside is that he worked in construction until a year ago and had literally never touched an American football. The upside is dude has been kicking the crud out of rugby footballs for a long time, and he’s apparently really damn good.
“A really strong, striking young lad, got real penetration in his kick too,” his coach and Prokick Australia founder Nathan Chapman said of Vassett. “He’s a good size, just gets a lot of weight behind it and a lot of leg speed. A talented footballer so it’s just that next step for him to get over there and start and put it all into the systems and formats of college football. Certainly got the skillset, does all of the things required and he’ll be very handy.”
In order to make the cut for Prokick Australia, players have to show that they can carry the ball a minimum of 45 yards with 4.5 seconds of hangtime. Vassett passed those qualifications easily and wowed his coach’s overseason. Look out for the Cards’ secret weapon.
17. Bryan Hudson becomes a starter on the offensive line
Get to know the name, Bryan Hudson. He’s a Kentucky native who transferred to Louisville this offseason as a multi-sport athlete (the dude is a beast in the shotput) that will surely see the field right away. Scott Satterfield has been pleased with what he’s seen throughout the offseason and fall camp, even mentioning him at times as a “starter.” He’ll start the season in a swing role, playing plenty of snaps but coming into the game off the bench. You could see him play at C, RG, or RT and by season’s end, he’ll have made a big enough impact to take someone’s spot. It’s an incredible feeling to have six (and maybe more guys) capable of starting upfront. It’s a far cry from years past.
18. Yaya Diaby meets his sack goal
The front three of Louisville football’s defense has had a pretty difficult getting after the quarterback the last two years. Securing just eight sacks in 2019 and four in 2020, the lack of production exposed other flaws across the defense. Everyone and their mother knows that trend can’t continue in 2021 and with studs like Yaya Diaby returning, that isn’t expected to be the case. Praise has been high for Diaby along with freshman freak Ashton Gillotte and it all centers around their ability to get after the quarterback. Diaby told the media he wants to reach 10 sacks on the season, and I’m predicting he’ll do just that. That’s a big jump from his zero in 2020, but he’s
19. Shai Werts’ highlight play will be a touchdown pass
I’m really excited about the playmaking potential that Georgia Southern transfer Shai Werts brings to the Louisville offense. After accruing over 6,800 total yards and 68 touchdowns as a quarterback, Werts transitions to receiver where he’ll be in line to replace Tutu Atwell in the slot. Gunter Brewer and the Louisville offense will need Werts to make a seamless transition and become a reliable pass-catching target. The jury is out on whether that will happen but one thing I am willing to predict is Werts’ top play of the season will be a passing play. I’ve dreamed out loud on From The Pink Seats about what Satterfield could draw up with Cunningham, Braden Smith, and Werts on the field together (all three have quarterback experience). I don’t know when it will be or who it will come against, but I expect at some point in the season for Werts to get the chance to connect on a deep ball. I also expect other touchdowns to be had as a pass-catcher.
20. Louisville football wins 9 games
There it is ladies & gentlemen, the biggest and boldest prediction you’ll see.
Louisville football is a mixed bag when it comes to their expectations. They were picked to finish at the bottom of the ACC Atlantic but media around the program and even around the country believe the Cards could be a sleeper. Even with a difficult schedule, everything is in place for Scott Satterfield’s team to take a jump and return back to 2019 form. As to why I think Louisville will be better in 2021 (much better) than 2020, it’s pretty simple.
- The offensive line is the most experienced unit on the field (regardless of side) and consists of great size, athleticism, versatility, and depth
- Malik Cunningham will be better than 2019 and 2020, especially as a passer, and will turn the ball over significantly less
- Louisville will be more balanced offensively
- There will be a consistent pass-rush
- Turnovers will be forced
It won’t be a perfect season by any means but as you saw in prediction #1, it’ll be enough to believe in the future of Satterfield as the leader. Here’s how I see it shaking out:
Ole Miss L 0-1
EKU W 1-1
UCF W 2-1
@ FSU L 2-2 (0-1)
@ Wake W 3-2 (1-1)
Virginia W 4-2 (2-1)
BC W 5-2 (3-1)
@ NC State L 5-3 (3-2)
Clemson L 5-4 (3-3)
Syracuse W 6-4 (4-3)
@ Duke W 7-4 (5-3)
@ UK W 8-4 (6-3)
That gets us to just 8 which means… Louisville football wins another bowl game! It may be the Duke Mayo bowl. It could be the Barstool bowl. Maybe the Gator Bowl. The Taxslayer Bowl. The Sun Bowl. The Belk Bowl. Regardless of the bowl, I’ve got Louisville winning and setting up 2022 to be another intriguing year.
21. Louisville football finishes in the top 25 in total sacks
I’ve sprinkled crumbs along the way to get here. Yasir Abdullah leads the team in sacks and becomes a top ACC edge rusher. Yaya Diaby reaches his goal of 10 sacks. I know, it’s a lot of faith in Mark Ivey and this Louisville front 7 but I see it happening this year. In fact, when you add in the production you’ll get from Monty Montgomery (who has led the team in sacks the last 2 years) along with guys like Jack Fagot, Nick Okeke, Marvin Dallas, Ashton Gillotte, Ramon Puryear, and others and this could be a dangerous defense. I believe Louisville finishes in the top 25 in sacks earned by in 2021, securing 32+ sacks.
22. Louisville has four secondary members drafted in 2022
This prediction comes technically outside of the 2021 season but is the direct result of what happens on the field during the season. Both Tre Clark & Chandler Jones are set for big seasons entering their second and third years in the system respectively. While neither has put up gaudy numbers *yet* both are set to do that in 2021 thanks to the overall talent on the defense for Louisville and their experience within the system. Clark could wind up as a national All-American while Jones’ position versatility could open the door to more NFL suitors. Add in lesser-known commodities, Kenderick Duncan and Qwenterrio Cole (aka Q Cole) and I see four players who will be drafted in 2022. Both Duncan and Cole came to Louisville with NFL potential, dominating their respective levels at Georgia Southern and Alcorn State. Now on the bigger stage, both will show they had what it took along but just needed the extra spotlight. Both have the size, the skill, and production to become stand-out ACC players. Because of that, don’t be shocked when Louisville has a top 15 passing defense this season. These four guys are legit.
Also read: How Louisville rebuilt their secondary in one offseason
23. Bryan Brown takes a head coaching job after season
Another offseason prediction that is a result of 2021’s outcomes. If the predictions laid out come to fruition it likely means a promotion for BB. With Scott Satterfield cementing his place as the head coach of the future, I predict Louisville’s co-defensive coordinator will do enough to earn himself a new gig; as a head coach. Depending on how much the defense improves overall will play a factor in what types of programs could come calling. Regardless, I think he shows enough in his third year at Louisville and fifth year overall as a DC to get a chance to lead a program.
24. Scott Satterfield and Co. flip a top 300 recruit
Believe it or not, you only have to go back three years to find the last time Louisville landed a top 300 player. Unfortunately for Louisville, none of those three top 300 players who committed in 2018 have made an impact with the program. Since then, Satterfield has landed a few fringe top-300 players but never one inside those rankings. Could this year be different?
With Louisville football on its way to winning 8 games and finishing in the top 3 of the ACC Atlantic Scott Satterfield lands his biggest commitment yet. I’ve said all offseason that the recruiting for the Cards needs to be jump-started by one thing… Winning. Because I think they do that and do so with a fun playing style, recruiting will heat up. Somewhere along the way, Louisville will start to get involved with a big-name kid already committed elsewhere before closing the door by signing day.
25. Louisville football beats Kentucky by 2 touchdowns
If you thought the offseason was choppy for Scott Satterfield, then I’d love to hear your thoughts on Mark Stoops and the UK offseason. Despite a few “hiccups” many believe Kentucky is expected to compete at the top of the SEC East thanks to returning an experienced roster and changes made to the offense. The banana peel eating, Tik Tok dancing Will Levis could be the answer for Stoops and new OC Liam Cohen (a Sean McVay product) at QB but the same has been said plenty of other times before. Nothing against UK but it’s hard to say a guy that’s thrown three touchdowns and two interceptions in his career. On paper, Kentucky looks like a good team, I’ll give you that. But considering the fact that they’ll have to go through the rigor of the SEC and deal with all of their own nonsense, I could totally see things going down the crapper fast. Especially if Levis is no good. I predict the Cats to hiccup down the stretch and crumble. Despite Stoops’ Troops trying to stir up some sort of social media beef or pregame shenanigans, UofL gets their revenge by being the better football team, walking out victorious for the first time since 2017.
Fuck you cards