We remember what you did, Marcus Vick.
Louisville football faces yet another crucial game this Saturday against Virginia Tech.
It’s great to experience that feeling again. Knowing that every game you play matters, not only for your squad, but for other teams around the country.
The Cards are so back, baby.
Louisville football will have to take care of business this week against an improving Hokies squad with some key players potentially being out.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know as Virginia Tech comes to town.
First Down: What to Know
Who: Virginia Tech (4-4, 3-1) at Louisville (6-1, 3-1)
Where: L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium | Louisville, KY
What’s on the line: 10-game win streak; Sole 2nd place in ACC; Tie-breakers vs VT, Duke, GT, BC
When: Saturday, November 4th, 2023 at 3:30 PM
How to Watch: ACC Network – Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich (color)
How to Listen: 93.9 FM in Louisville
Series History: Virginia Tech leads 6-2
Last Meeting: VT won 42-35 in 2020
Spread Check: Louisville -9.5
Thread Check:
Kind of hard to tell here but that’s:
White Heisman Card Helmet
Black Jersey
Black Pants
Tickets: Here.
If you’re thinking about going… Go. Promise you won’t regret it.
Weather Check: 65 and Sunny at kickoff.
Perfect football weather.
Second Down: Depth Chart
You’ve likely heard rumblings that Louisville football is pretty banged up this week.
For that reason, we will give the depth chart Louisville provided, and add an asterisk next to the names of players whose names have surfaced.
The good thing about college football is that some of these guys could give it a go. The bad thing is that they could be out and we wouldn’t know until kickoff.
Quarterback
13 Jack Plummer (6-5, 215, Sr.)
19 Brock Domann (6-2, 225, Sr.)
OR 15 Harrison Bailey (6-5, 230, Jr.)
OR 6 Evan Conley (6-2, 210, Sr.)
OR 10 Pierce Clarkson (6-1, 190, Fr.)
OR 12 Brady Allen (6-6, 220, R-Fr.)
Running Back
25 Jawhar Jordan (5-10, 185, R-Jr.)**
4 Maurice Turner (5-10, 190, So.)
23 Isaac Guerendo (6-1, 225, Sr.)
Wide Receiver
1 Jamari Thrash (6-1, 180, R-Jr.)**
2 Jadon Thompson (6-2, 185, Jr.)
Wide Receiver
3 Kevin Coleman Jr. (5-11, 180, So.)
OR 9 Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (5-10, 170, Jr.)
Wide Receiver
7 Jimmy Calloway (6-0, 190, R-So.)
OR 0 Chris Bell (6-2, 225, So.)
Tight End
42 Josh Lifson (6-3, 235, Gr.)
OR 85 Nate Kurisky (6-3, 235, So.)
OR 84 Joey Gatewood (6-4, 245, R-Sr.)
OR 11 Jamari Johnson (6-5, 265, Fr.)
Left Tackle
55 Willie Tyler III (6-6, 320, R-Sr.)**
70 Trevonte Sylvester (6-6, 280, R-So.)
Left Guard
68 Michael Gonzalez (6-4, 305, Jr.)
67 John Paul Flores (6-4, 305, R-Sr.)
Center
61 Bryan Hudson (6-5, 305, R-Sr.)**
51 Austin Collins (6-3, 290, R-So.)
Right Guard
51 Austin Collins (6-3, 290, R-So.)
71 Joshua Black (6-2, 280-R-Jr.)
Right Tackle
74 Eric Miller (6-7, 305, R-Sr.)
77 Vincent Lumia (6-2, 295, Sr.)
–
Defensive End
9 Ashton Gillotte (6-3, 270, Jr.)
15 Kameron Wilson (6-2, 230, R-So.)
32 Ryheem Craig (6-3, 235, R-So.)
Nose Tackle
99 Dezmond Tell (6-1, 290, Jr.)
OR 91 Tawfiq Thomas (6-4, 300, So.)
44 Selah Brown (6-2, 285, So.)
Defensive Tackle
41 Ramon Puryear (6-3, 270, R-Jr.)
58 Jeffery Clark (6-0, 290, R-Jr.)
OR 90 Jermayne Lole (6-3, 310, Gr.)
OR 93 Jared Dawson (6-2, 305, R-So.),
Leo (DE/LB)
14 Stephen Herron (6-3, 240, R-Sr.)
95 Mason Reiger (6-4, 250, Jr.)
15 Kameron Wilson (6-2, 230, R-So.)
12 Popeye Williams (6-3, 250, So.)
OR 98 Adonijah Green (6-6, 225, Fr.)
Middle Linebacker
24 Jaylin Alderman (6-1, 230, Jr.)
22 Keith Brown (6-2, 235, Jr.)
6 Stanquan Clark (6-3, 230, Fr.)
Weakside Linebacker
34 T.J. Quinn (6-1, 230, R-So.)
13 Gilbert Frierson (6-1, 220, R-Sr.)
17 Jackson Hamilton (6-1, 220, R-So.)
STAR (LB/S)
10 Benjamin Perry (6-3, 205, R-So.)
35 Antonio Watts (6-2, 225, So.)
Cornerback
2 Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (6-0, 190, Jr.)**
29 Storm Duck (6-1, 200, R-Sr.)
Cornerback
3 Quincy Riley (6-0, 185, R-Jr.)
28 Trey Franklin (5-10, 185, R-Jr.)
30 Derrick Edwards III (5-11, 180, R-So.)
Free Safety
5 Josh Minkins (6-2, 200, Jr.)
11 Cam’Ron Kelly (6-2, 210, R-Sr.)
Free Safety
27 Devin Neal (6-0, 210, Jr.)
11 Cam’Ron Kelly (6-2, 210, R-Sr.)
Punter
40 Brock Travelstead (6-1, 205, Jr.)
OR 39 Carter Schwartz (6-4, 215, Fr.)
OR 93 Brady Hodges (6-1, 200, Jr.)
Placekicker
40 Brock Travelstead (6-1, 205, Jr.)
92 Nick Lopez (6-1, 190, R-Sr.)
Holder
93 Brady Hodges (6-1, 200, Jr.)
39 Carter Schwartz (6-4, 215, Fr.)
Long Snapper
48 Shai Kochav (6-3, 240, R-So.)
32 Hayden Travelstead (6-0, 200, Fr.)
Kick Returner
25 Jawhar Jordan (5-10, 185, R-Jr.)**
23 Isaac Guerendo (6-1, 225, Sr.)
Punt Returner
3 Kevin Coleman Jr. (5-11, 180, So.)
3 Quincy Riley (6-0, 185, R-Jr.)
9 Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (5-11, 170, Jr.)
Third Down: What to Watch For
How do injuries impact Louisville football?
This has been a storyline for the last month, but it feels perhaps the most impactful this week.
Louisville is reportedly still pretty banged up, and this week we add more issues among the offensive line.
Bryan Hudson is the name that I am the most concerned about. The anchor and leader on this offensive line has not been practicing for the last few weeks but has managed to actually play every snap anyway.
With veteran Renato Brown out for the season, Hudson’s availability is paramount to Louisville’s success.
Austin Collins slid into Brown’s spot the last two weeks, and it has been a seamless transition.
However, with B Huddy still hurt and left tackle Willie Tyler reportedly dealing with an injury of his own now, it’s crucial that the Cards have the second-string guys step in and play well.
Josh Black, John Paul Flores, and Trevonte Sylvester seem to be the next guys up.
Among the three other Cards dealing with significant injuries, Jawhar Jordan, Jamari Thrash, and Jarvis Brownlee appear to be gametime decisions.
Again, I don’t claim to be an insider, but I am in wait and see mode on these guys.
Jaws was injured against Pitt and tried to give it a go. I’d imagine weather, being on the road, and field conditions played a part in the staff’s decision to hold him out after the first two drives. He went on to have the best game of his career against Duke.
Still, the word is that the hamstring is still bothering Louisville’s superstar running back. And with a quick turnaround against UVA on Thursday, one would think the snaps will be limited this week just in case.
Thrash is still apparently dealing with a nagging hand/wrist injury. And while he is a game-time decision as well, I feel much the same about Thrash as I do Jordan. Let’s just see at game time.
Brownlee went down against Duke after a re-aggravation of a lingering injury. Luckily, the Cards have done well with Storm Duck in place of Brownlee in the secondary.
Week of the trick plays?
I kind of predicted this against Notre Dame and it didn’t really come to fruition.
Against Virginia Tech, however, I am ready to once again throw it out there.
I think Jeff Brohm is going deep into his offensive bag this week.
With so many injuries on the offense, and against an opportunistic Virginia Tech defense, it just makes sense for Brohm to try to free up guys with some trickery.
Brohm became known for the effectiveness of his outside-the-box plays at Purdue. But the Cards have been able to win in the trenches and found success with some electric offensive players under Brohm.
Louisville football has some really talented, but probably under-utilized players like Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Joey Gatewood, and Mo Turner. I am looking for those guys to step up and show out this week.
Feed Chris Bell
Virginia Tech loves to bring pressure. They love to gamble.
They also like to keep things in front of them on the back end.
The result is a defense that is a big susceptible in the run game and the short to intermediate passing game.
A nod to Jacob Lane here… Get the ball to the slant king, Chris Bell. The dude is too talented to not have a big day.
Fourth Down: Predictions
Vacation Matt McGavic: 31-17 Cards
Jacob Lane: 31-20 Cards
Vincent Lococo: 34-6 Cards
Reggie Bonnafon: 28-7 Cards
Pres Meyer: 38-24 Cards
