Recent off a 24-20 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers, the Louisville Cardinals have their hardest check thus far after they tackle the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes at residence. Louisville will probably be seeking to make an enormous upset within the ACC.
The Cardinals, who’ve began the 12 months 4-2, had back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and SMU after a win over Georgia Tech. The group bounced again this previous weekend towards Virginia to enhance to 2-2 in convention play.
Now, although, their hardest opponent of the 12 months is coming to city and so they’re going to want a serious spark.
Insert true freshman working again Isaac Brown, who has taken over the Cardinals backfield and risen because the No. 1 again, dashing for 508 yards and three touchdowns on 8.6 yards per carry to date this 12 months.
Brown has actually exploded in latest weeks, incomes 20 carries for 146 yards and two scores towards Virginia, which have been the important thing distinction makers within the 24-20 win. Earlier than that, he went for 117 yards on simply 10 carries towards SMU, though Louisville fell simply quick in a 34-27 loss.
Brown’s efficiency towards Virginia gained him an ACC Rookie of the Week award, as he picked up his third 100-yard sport of the season.
“Everybody thinks I’m too small to do issues,” Brown stated to reporters postgame. “However I simply wish to present them what I can do and assist put the group on my again.”
Whereas the 5’9”, 190-pound freshman could also be smaller than different backs within the nation, he has appeared to play bodily and hit on explosive performs, which the Louisville workplace has undoubtedly wanted.
Louisville has gone with a very younger backfield following the departures of high backs Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo. The Cardinals have appeared to true freshmen Brown and Duke Watson, in addition to redshirt freshman Keyjuan Brown to cleared the path within the backfield.
After seeing extra sporadic carries to start the 12 months, Isaac Brown has cemented himself because the No. 1 again over the previous three weeks, and can look to hold over his robust performances to Week 8 towards Miami.
Heading into the weekend, the Hurricanes rank 14th within the FBS, permitting simply 97.2 dashing yards per sport and simply 3.5 yards per rush, placing collectively a robust physique of labor to date as a top-10 group.
Nevertheless, they’ve been prone at occasions, as Miami gave up 206 dashing yards to Virginia Tech, with lead again Bhayshul Tuten going for 141 yards and a rating on 19 makes an attempt. Moreover, going again to the opener, Florida lead again Montrell Johnson had 106 yards on simply 11 makes an attempt, although the Gators have been blown out in that one.
The alternatives will probably be there for Brown this weekend, because the Cardinals must make a concerted effort to get their rising star the ball, each on the bottom and within the air, which ought to assist quarterback Tyler Shough out towards a tricky protection.
Now, Louisville has a committee of backs, so maybe one other teen out of the backfield will get sizzling, but it surely’s shaping up like Brown might very effectively be the X-Issue, ought to the Cardinals make a marquee upset on this one.