Louisville Cardinals Football

HEIGHT: 6'1.25"

WEIGHT: 217

HAND: 10 1/8"

ARM: 33 1/2"

WINGSPAN: 81"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.62

3-CONE: 6.85

SHUTTLE: 4.35

VERTICAL: 33"

BROAD: 10'00"

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POSITIVES

—Good size and length.

—Strong play-recognition skills.

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NEGATIVES

—Tentative at point of contact, does not strike ball-carriers.

—Body control and change of direction is erratic.

—Lacks ideal athletic profile, a tad of a liability in coverage.

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2022 STATISTICS

—44 tackles (32 solo)

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NOTES

—35 Starts

—Hip surgery prior to 2022 season, foot surgery at end of 2021 season.

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OVERALL

Kenderick Duncan Jr. arrived at Louisville as a transfer from Georgia Southern in 2021 and made an immediate impact, starting 12 games for the Cardinals while recording 76 tackles, 4 TFL's and 4 PBU's. His 2022 campaign was a bit of a disappointment, however, as Duncan saw his workload diminish throughout the season en route to his worst statistical season in college.

Duncan proves to be a bit of a liability in coverage. His lack of speed and change of direction create a mismatch in coverage situations that teams would attack when identified. While he is physical with receivers, Duncan is simply unable to recover when he's beat and has been responsible for a few long scores in both man and zone.

Against the run, Duncan's game begins to take shape a bit more. He does a good job of identifying runs and play action, which allows him to get into position somewhat quicker. While he doesn't fly downhill and strike ball-carriers, Duncan is a fine tackler, although a bit tentative. In the open field, some issues with Duncan's erratic angles and body control are apparent, as he simply struggles to hone in on ball-carriers when forced to change direction.

Overall, Duncan is a difficult prospect to have a ton of faith in because of his athletic profile and diminished workload in 2022. A potential move into the box full-time could perhaps quell some of the shortcomings in his game, as he simply does not have the coverage ability to play deep.

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GRADE: 5.7 (Backup or Draftable/Rounds 6-7)

OVERALL RANK: 231

POSITION RANK: S18

PRO COMPARISON: Mark Barron

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 263

HAND: 10⅜"

ARM: 33⅞"

WINGSPAN: 81¼"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.51

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 37"

BROAD: 10'0"

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POSITIVES

– Great athletic testing numbers at the combine, posting a 9.86 out of 10 RAS.

– When he does time the snap on passing downs or short-yardage situations, he accelerates off the ball well. He recorded a 1.56-second 10-yard split at the combine.

– Has a solid rip move and good bend to win around the edge and also uses the rip move as a counter on his bull rush.

– Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.

– Agility allows him to set the edge instead of getting hooked by a blocker against outside zone runs.

– Hustle player who will factor into gang tackles down the field.

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NEGATIVES

– More often than not late off the ball and makes a false step out of his stance.

– Late with his hands when taking on blocks.

– Lacks strength at the point of attack to hold ground against offensive linemen and will get washed inside by down blocks or when slanting.

– Strength issues prevent him from winning with power as a pass-rusher.

– Struggles with his balance; ends up on the ground too much.

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2022 STATS

– 13 games, 37 total tackles (22 solo), 14 TFL, 9 sacks, 2 PD

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NOTES

– Born May 30, 1999

– JUCO transfer

– 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 41 JUCO prospect, No. 3 SDE, per 247Sports composite rankings

– 33 career starts

– Missed one game with an ankle injury in 2020

– 2022 honors: third-team All-ACC

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OVERALL

YaYa Diaby turned heads at the combine with outstanding testing numbers. Part of why that was surprising was because he played slightly out of position at Louisville, lining up at defensive tackle far more often than he should in the NFL. His athleticism did flash on tape but not nearly to the extent that he showed in Indianapolis.

Diaby would be best as a hand-in-the-ground defensive end for a team that uses even fronts. His athletic ability and production as a pass-rusher last season are intriguing, though a lot of his sacks were coverage sacks and/or came via beating tight ends or running backs. So, there is a question about how much that will transfer to the next level.

Still, he's worth taking a flier on as a fringe draftable player or an undrafted free agent.

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GRADE: 5.4 (Backup or UDFA with Roster Potential/UDFA)

OVERALL RANK: 261

POSITION RANK: EDGE27

PRO COMPARISON: Victor Dimukeje

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Written by B/R NFL draft scout Matt Holder

HEIGHT: 6'0 5/8"

WEIGHT: 237

HAND: 9 1/4"

ARM: 32 3/8"

WINGSPAN: 79 7/8"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.47

3-CONE: 7.0

SHUTTLE: 4.33

VERTICAL: 36 1/2"

BROAD: 10'9"

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POSITIVES

– Accelerates off the ball really well and can win with speed when he times up the snap count.

– Solid rip or dip-rip move with impressive bend to win around the edge as a pass rusher.

– Solid at working the offensive lineman's hands after initial contact when rushing the passer.

– Good block recognition to put himself in a position to stay in his gap as a run defender. Also, has the agility to run his feet and avoid getting reached against outside zone runs.

– Quick to sniff out screens.

– Decent in coverage, he can take away short routes against tight ends and running backs and click and close.

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NEGATIVES

– Undersized for an NFL edge and pretty full-framed already, doesn't have much room for growth.

– Doesn't take on blocks with his hands as a run defender, often ends up chest-to-chest with offensive linemen and struggling to get extension.

– Not strong enough to hold up at the point of attack against base blocks from offensive tackles. Poor knee-bend and struggles to set the edge, too.

– Lacks the strength and size to win with power as a rusher.

– While he has active hands after contact, he needs to do a better job of knocking the OL's hands down to start his pass-rush moves.

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2022 STATS

– 13 GM, 63 total tackles (34 solo), 14.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 4 PD, 4 FFs, 2 INTs

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NOTES

– Born April 12, 2000

– A 3-Star recruit in the 2018 class, No. 813 overall, No. 53 OLB, per 247Sports' composite rankings

– 40 career starts

– 2022 Honors: First-Team All-ACC, led ACC in sacks (9.5) and ranked fourth in TFL (14.5)

– 2021 Honors: Second-Team All-ACC

– Father, Xavier, played at Florida

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OVERALL

Yasir Abdullah is an exceptional athlete as an edge defender. He earned a 9.72 RAS score at the combine and has some quick twitch and bend to him that could make him an intriguing pass-rusher at the next level. However, his run defense is a work in progress.

Abdullah does have good instincts as a run defender to put himself in a position to take on blocks, but he lacks size and strength, which will be a bigger issue against NFL offensive tackles. He'll struggle to hold his ground and set the edge, and he doesn't use his hands when taking on blocks, which makes escaping difficult.

The Louisville prospect would be best as a pass-rush specialist on Sundays. An odd front team could see him as a standup linebacker on the line of scrimmage, but his size will still be an issue in that scheme, and he doesn't have much room for growth. Given that, switching to off-ball linebacker could be in the cards for him, and he did show solid coverage skills in college.

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GRADE: 5.9 (Backup or Draftable/Rounds 6-7)

OVERALL RANK: 194

POSITION RANK: EDGE22

PRO COMPARISON: Antwan Barnes

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

Louisville Cardinals running back Jawhar Jordan put on an impressive offensive display in Saturday's Fenway Bowl victory over Cincinnati, making a case for a bigger role next season.

Jordan racked up 115 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries to lead Louisville to a 24-7 win. The transfer from Syracuse has two years of eligibility remaining and should be the focal point of the Cardinals offense in 2023.

This season, Jordan shared the backfield with dual-threat quarterback Malik Cunningham, who led the team with 12 rushing touchdowns. Cunningham sat out the bowl game after declaring for the NFL draft, giving Jordan the freedom to showcase his skills Saturday. Freshman running back Maurice Turner also had a strong game with a career-high 160 yards on 31 carries.

Fans on social media were impressed with what they saw from Jordan as he propelled Louisville to its first bowl victory since 2019:

Shake and bake Jawhar Jordan!

— Mark Blankenbaker (@UofLSheriff50) December 17, 2022

https://twitter.com/Tyler_Greever/status/1604156084083691521

Jawhar Jordan is the fourth Louisville player to have multiple rushing touchdowns in a bowl game, joining Lamar Jackson (2 in the 2015 Music City Bowl), Leroy Collins (3 in the 1998 Motor City Bowl), and John Madeya (2 in the 1970 Pasadena Bowl).

— Kelly Dickey (@RealCardGame) December 17, 2022

Another long touchdown run for Louisville's Jawhar Jordan, this one from 41 yards out.

Cardinals up 21-7 on the #Bearcats with 42 seconds left in the 2nd Q.

— Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) December 17, 2022

.@JaJo_25 TO THE HOUSE 🙌

📺 ESPN#GoCards pic.twitter.com/LOYuMzbk6i

— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) December 17, 2022

Jawhar Jordan put the BURNERS on ♨️@LouisvilleFB up by 14 in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl‼️ pic.twitter.com/NyE2U0KAWl

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) December 17, 2022

Jawhar Jordan is legit man. Sucks to lose Reuben but I think we got our guy regardless.

— Dev (@DijonJourney) December 17, 2022

The one-two punch of Jawhar Jordan and Maurice Turner could be deadly next season.

— Matt McGavic (@Matt_McGavic) December 17, 2022

Jawhar Jordan has come out of nowhere this season for Louisville’s offense. Syracuse transfer who has some serious speed and is making a habit of making big plays for explosive gains. Already 100 yards and 2 touchdowns today in the bowl game.

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) December 17, 2022

Dr Jawhar Jordan making house calls ALL DAMN DAY today in Boston.

— Taco Shawn (@lvilleshawn) December 17, 2022

Fenway Bowl first half thoughts:

1. Jawhar Jordan is great.
2. Defense line is full of DAWGS.
3. Brohm HAS to keep Deion on his staff.

— Zachary Elam (@ZacharyKElam) December 17, 2022

https://twitter.com/Corb1nallen/status/1604167597746012161

Watching Jawhar Jordan in a Jeff Brohm offense is going to be FUN

— Bral Turlick (@kneary22) December 17, 2022

Jawhar Jordan is going to thrive in Brohm’s offense.

— Chris Person (@RivalsChris) December 17, 2022

Jawhar Jordan a beast

— QU Hockey = 2023 Champs (@SportsFAn1928) December 17, 2022

Jawhar Jordan is going to eat next year

— Liyah M. (@____ENM) December 17, 2022

https://twitter.com/joshuaceasar502/status/1604165810565660672

After back-to-back losing seasons, the Cardinals finish 2022 an 8-5 record.

With Jordan leading the way, the Cardinals should have a better chance at being competitive in the ACC.

The Louisville Cardinals are losing a major piece from their 2023 recruiting class, while Texas A&M is gaining one.

Running back Rueben Owens II told Nick Harris of Rivals he decommitted from the Cardinals on Wednesday. Harris reported Ohio State, Georgia and Texas A&M were the front-runners to land him, and it didn't take long to make a decision.

Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports reported the running back chose the Aggies.

Owens is a 5-star prospect and the No. 23 overall player, No. 2 running back and No. 5 player from the state of Texas in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports suggested Owens could eventually be an early-round draft pick in the NFL, underscoring his overall potential to be a game-changing addition for Texas A&M.

He is the first running back in the Aggies' 2023 recruiting class.

The first thing that jumps out about Owens is his speed, which follows since he also competes in high school track and field. That helps him turn small gains into long touchdown runs, and Brooks highlighted his elusiveness and moves in the hole as well.

He is also a solid receiver and physical enough to power through arm tackles and convert short-yardage situations if needed.

That Owens is leaving Louisville doesn't come as a major surprise given the change in the coaching staff.

Cincinnati hired away head coach Scott Satterfield, while ESPN's Chris Low reported the Cardinals are bringing in Purdue coach Jeff Brohm to fill the vacancy. Brohm is returning to his alma mater after leading the Boilermakers to the Big Ten Championship Game this season.

Coaching changes inevitably impact recruiting since prospects were so often recruited by the previous staff, and Owens is headed to Texas A&M as a result.

Purdue football head coach Jeff Brohm is finalizing a deal to take the same position at Louisville, per Chris Low of ESPN.

The reported pact would pay Brohm $35 million over six years.

Louisville had an opening at head coach after Scott Satterfield left the team to take the job at Cincinnati earlier this week.

Brohm has spent the past six years at Purdue, producing a 36-34 record. The squad went 8-5 in 2022 and made an appearance in the Big Ten title game.

The 51-year-old took over a program that went 3-9 in 2016, winning just nine games in the previous four years combined. Brohm led Purdue to a winning record in his first year, including a victory in the Foster Farms Bowl.

Last year, the Boilermakers won the Music City Bowl to end the season at 9-4, the program's best record since 2003.

Before his time at Purdue, Brohm went 30-10 across three seasons at Western Kentucky, including three bowl wins. The Hilltoppers went 12-2 in 2015, making their only appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 that year.

The coach will return home after starring as a player at Trinity High School in Louisville, winning the Kentucky Mr. Football Award as a senior in 1988. He went to Louisville from 1989 to 1993, throwing 38 career touchdown passes while leading the squad to a 9-3 record as a senior.

Brohm was inducted into the school's Ring of Honor in 2006.

After a seven-year NFL career, mostly as a backup, and one year in the XFL, Brohm returned to his alma mater as a coach. He led the quarterbacks from 2003 to 2006, becoming an assistant head coach in 2007 and offensive coordinator in 2008.

Louisville is coming off a 7-5 regular season and will face Cincinnati in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 17.

Cincinnati reportedly plans to hire Louisville's Scott Satterfield as its next head football coach.

Pete Thamel of ESPN reported the six-year deal will be announced later Monday.

Cincinnati and Louisville are slated to play in the Fenway Bowl later this month. It's unclear if Satterfield will finish out his season with Louisville to play against his new team.

Satterfield, 49, has compiled a 25-24 record over four seasons at Louisville. The Cardinals have made three bowls but have never finished with more than eight wins.

Satterfield previously spent six years at Appalachian State, compiling a 51-24 record and three bowl wins. He is set to replace Luke Fickell, who took the head-coaching job at Wisconsin.

Fickell leaves behind a strong program that has won 57 games over the last six seasons. The Bearcats finished as a Top 10 team in 2020 and 2021, becoming the first Group of Five squad to make the College Football Playoff last season.

Cincinnati will join a revamped Big 12 in 2023 as the conference prepares for the departures of Texas and Oklahoma in 2025.

The program's decision to hire Satterfield may confuse some given his relative lack of success at Louisville. He'll leave the program with a worse record than his predecessor, Bobby Petrino, and with the second-worst record for a Louisville coach since the turn of the century.

At the time he came to Cincinnati, Fickell was one of the most highly sought-after assistant coaches in the nation. It wouldn't have been a surprise if the school dipped its toes into the assistant ranks for a replacement, but it's clear the administration valued head-coaching experience in the search.