No position on Louisville’s team had more personnel losses from last season than the cornerback group. Quincy Riley is fighting for a starting spot with the New Orleans Saints, while Corey Thornton is fighting to make the roster for the Panthers. Steve Ellis only had one contributor slated to return this season before fall camp, and that player only played in one game. He and the staff had to revamp his room this offseason, and they worked to do just that.
Ellis is known as a guy who can get a lot out of under-the-radar guys, and his laundry list of former players in the NFL is evidence of that. He’ll look to do the same this year, with Rodney Johnson likely being his top cornerback on the depth chart this year. Johnson comes in from Southern University, but he has the size of a P4 player, and he has held his own since arriving on campus.
Tayon Holloway rejoined the team in fall camp after being suspended following an arrest last fall. Halloway was a playmaker for the Cards last year when he was on the field with a blocked kick, which he returned for a touchdown against Georgia Tech, and 6 pass break-ups. He showed off a skill to track the ball and knock down passes down the field that a lot of cornerbacks struggle with. He will push for a starting job on this team, but Ellis may play to the strengths of the players when it comes to who lines up on the boundary as opposed to the field. Either way, he has much better depth with Halloway back in the fold.
In spring ball, Rae’mon Mosby lined up on the field side all the way through the spring game, but that may have changed in the fall. Jabari Mack took the starting spot in fall camp, but I think this competition will keep going into the season. Mosby had a strong showing in the bowl game in his first real snaps of the season, which earned him a shot as a starter to start the spring, in my opinion. We’ll see who gets the start, but Ellis is again in good shape at the top of his depth chart.
The depth at cornerback past the two-deep has some questions but also some promise. Justin Agu is an experienced player who should be able to provide some relief in certain situations. While I don’t see Agu as an option as a starter or rotation player, his experience should allow him to be a player the staff can rely on if needed. Antonio Harris is a player I thought played very well in practice in the spring and fall. He was aggressive in coverage while also showing the ability to play the ball in the air. He also didn’t shy away from the moment when he went against older receivers, which you like to see from a true freshman. I think he’s a player worth keeping an eye on when it comes to his playing time.
I had a tough choice here as I left spring practice expecting Rae’mon Mosby to be a full-time starter this year and for him to take full advantage of the opportunity. However, I think Rodney Johnson will be the guy who sees the field the most this year, and I think he will be tested the most on the boundary. Johnson is a strong tackler and plays with great instincts. The only question is if he has the speed and athleticism to handle the top receivers UofL will see this year. I’m banking on Steve Ellis’ tootaleage to have him ready to meet the moment.
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