Position Breakdown: Cornerbacks

Returning Players

Adrian Bushell and Andrew Johnson are your most notable returning cornerbacks and should be your September 2nd starters.  As a matter of fact, there is no question they will be the starters.  Adrian ‘The Gift From The Football Gods’ Bushell (as our guy Nick Coffey likes to call him) is the lone senior on this unit and and maybe the most pivotal as well.  Bushell showed up on Louisville’s campus as a JUCO transfer last year from Cedar Valley CC just two days before the season opener.  Next thing you know the guy plays 10 games and finished 5th on the team in total tackles. Andrew Johnson may be one of the biggest surprises of the 2011 season.  Johnson came to Louisville as a 4-Star prospect out of Southridge High School in Miami a bit in the shadow of his teammate Gerod Holliman that ended up in prep school and a member of the 2012 class.  As a true freshman Andrew appeared in 11 games and started nine of them.  Johnson gradually improved throughout the season into one of Louisville’s premier Cornerbacks.  These guys are lockdown corners and will give the defense fits game in and game out.

Newcomers

Devantre Parnell and Kevin Houchins (not yet on campus) are your true freshman from this 2012 recruiting class.  Both are 3-Star prospects with boatloads of speed. While there are a lot of Cornerbacks on Louisville’s roster, I don’t see it as incredibly deep.  These guys definitely have the talent to get on the field and contribute, but it’s hard to predict whether or not they will receive redshirts this season.  Parnell may be the most talented and ready to go of the two, so don’t be surprised if the true freshman ends up on the field. Devantre can be a special teams weapon as well.

Player To Watch

Jordon Pascal is a guy who I actually expected to have a breakout season last year and play a larger role, but I think the surprising emergence of Adrian Bushell and Andrew Johnson provided a bit of a speed bump for Jordon.  As a 3-Star prospect out of Trotwood Ohio, Jordon was one of then Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe’s better commitments.  Has very good speed on coverage and can also be a weapon on special teams.

Expectations

At the top I really like the talent that this team possesses and I have a lot of confidence in their ability.  As I mentioned previously, I don’t see this as a terribly deep unit, so I do have some cautious concerns that if there happens to be an unfortunate injury that it could derail this unit a bit.  Keep in mind that we had two guys in Bushell and Johnson come in and make an immediate impact last season so there is always the chance that one of the newcomers or other underclassmen could do the same this season.  With no hiccups new defensive backs coach Tommy Restivito’s first year could go fairly smoothly, but heaven forbid if there are any injuries from the top end of the depth chart, he and his unit could be tested.  Let’s hope we don’t have face that type of situation and these guys help lead the Cards to what has the makings to be a remarkable season.