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Now it the time for walk-ons to show themselfs

Walk-on Jean Childs is never going to break through the OL to get on the field. As a NG he might make it on the field as a relief late in the game this year or next.

Walk-on Dayna Kinnaird played TE in New Albany, he will get lost in the deck as a DE with the present roster, and new DE recruits will past him by. Even if CSS finds 3 new TEs with his ht. and wt.he may be able to find the field as a TE in a pinch.

There others I think need to change positions to see the field as walk-ons
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Nwora - Concern going forward

Want to start by saying Nwora came up big the other day but I have a concern that is starting to bother me a little bit . It seems lately he is getting a little over dramatic in my opinion for my liking trying to draw fouls. Throwing the head back and flailing the arms while looking at the refs waiting for a call. That's the beginnings of a bad habit he doesn't need to get comfortable with.

FB RECRUITING: New RB coach on the road to recruit this 2019 Athlete

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New RB coach Norval McKenzie is down in Tampa to visit Tye Edwards. The ‘Cards are willing to take him as either a RB or an OLB. The aim of the visit is to set up an official visit. Many believe he is headed to Auburn but if Edwards sets up an official all bets are off.

I would also expect some offers to go out to 2020 prospects in the Tampa area.

FB RECRUITING: 3-star DB Dequanteous Watts receives Louisville offer, sets OV

For those of you that follow my updates, this is a name that I mentioned a while back. In fact, I believe Pervis was really excited to name him to the "All name" team ;). Anyway, today Louisville assistant coach Bryan Brown visited Watts at his school and offered him a scholarship. Up to this point Watts has had a final 3 of UCF, Ole Miss, and South Carolina but just now he told me the only three teams he is considering are Oregon, South Carolina, and Louisville.

Watts tells me he will officially visit Louisville January 31st-February 2nd. One other interesting thing to note is that Watts was teammates of Hassan Hall so there is definitely a connection to the school.

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Random football thoughts

I preface this post by saying I have the utmost confidence in CSS. I believe he may end up being the most successful coach in Cardinal history. That being said, I have two bits of concern over the last few days:

Has anyone noticed since reports have been surfacing that Coach McKenzie was hired as the RB coach...not one report (that I have seen) has listed the accomplishments of his understudies?? Was he any good? I’ve got it, he was a good student, and has some training in education. But what have his players done? That is critical info to me. Is there nothing of note, or just lazy journalism?

Tate Martell - I know a lot of you are playing mental gymnastics justifying this one - mostly because he was a highly rated recruit, but I’m still scratching my head on this one. No, he is not a grad-transfer. This kid went to an athletic-centric prep school and committed to three different schools before signing with Ohio state. Now, just two school years after setting foot on campus he is looking to bounce because the coaching staff is bringing in some competition? Look, I get it. We don’t know the whole story. I get it that kids change their minds like the wind. I was like that. But then again, me-now wouldn’t waste resources recruiting me-then based on potential or some hidden intangible.
I’m not going to lie, I’m secretly hoping Pass, Malik or Conley steps up and earns the title. What a career Conley could have if he starts as a true frosh.

TBH, I think you can ride with any one of those three if you play to their strengths and mask their weaknesses (Something Bobby was a master at, then suddenly forgot how to do). The TE position depth is much, much more concerning to me. You need to balance out the depth at that position. Grad transfer, two JUCOs, and one or two freshmen. You redshirt one JUCO (if you can) and one true freshman. That way, the next year you have a senior, a r-Jr, a soph, and a r-FR and you can redshirt an incoming true freshman. If CSS runs as many two tights as he did at App State, he will need this kind of depth and balance.

ACC MBB Consistency in Scheduling

The last time Louisville won more than 3 consecutive games vs ACC opponents (HOME or AWAY) was 2018 January 10 through January 21 (4 straight games).

Prior to that, it was 2017 January 7 through January 19 (4 straight games).

Before that, it was 2016 January 14 through January 27 (4 straight games).

And before that, in 2015 January 25 through February 3 (4 straight games).

One Takeaway: Louisville has never won more than 4 games consecutively in an ACC season.

Another Takeaway: Louisville gets the easy schedule in January and the tough schedule in February.

FB RECRUITING: New ILB coach Dale Jones visits 2019 Florida-based 3-star.

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Andrews was offered by the old staff back back in December of 2017. Since new inside linebackers coach Dale Jones traveled to Tallahassee and made an in home visit, it's safe to say Andrews has a new offer. The Godby product is listed as a safety but Louisville is recruiting him as a linebacker.

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The Rivals database indicates that Andrews is set to take an official visit to Louisville on February 1st, right before signing day but I haven't been able to confirm at this hour. I'll update the board once I get confirmation.
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FB RECRUITING: JUCO LB set for official visit

Hutchinson C.C JUCO Monty Montgomery tells me that he will make an official visit to Louisville on February 2nd. Yesterday Montgomery was visited by Cort Dennison and a scholarship offer was extended to him at that time. As of now I believe Allen Smith and Ja'Darien Boykin are the top priorities at LB but if the Cardinals were to miss on either Montgomery could be a serious option.

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Crawford piece on Enoch -- worth a read

https://www.wdrb.com/sports/crawfor...cle_7a29bf72-18db-11e9-b25e-3f13f377b9e1.html

You'll have to click on the link to read the whole thing, but this is my favorite part:


“I’ve been through ups and downs offensively, rushing my shot,” Enoch said. “I feel like I’m finding that fine line between rushing my shot, but being aggressive. . . . I’m learning to stay away from offensive fouling, getting good position but not having my arms go everywhere. Each game I play, whether I start or not, I’m learning. And that’s all that matters to me.”

Official: Norval McKenzie hired to coach RBs

The University of Louisville football program has hired Norval McKenzie as its running backs coach, head coach Scott Satterfield announced on Tuesday.

Before joining the Louisville staff, McKenzie spent the last three seasons as the running backs coach at Arkansas State.


“Norval came highly recommended by many in the coaching industry,” Satterfield said. “After interviewing him it was clear, not only was he extremely intelligent, he’s driven and motivated to be the best in the country. He will be a great addition to our football family. “


Last season, McKenzie’s running backs were an integral component of the offense that averaged 186.4 yards on the ground, guiding the Red Wolves to an 8-5 record and a win over Nevada in the Arizona Bowl. McKenzie tutored two of the Sun Belt’s top-10 rushers in Marcel Murray and the league’s Freshman of the Year Warren Wand.


Murray, who finished seventh in the Sun Belt in rushing, ran for 860 yards and eight scores, while Wand totaled 792 yards and four touchdowns to help the Red Wolves finish fifth in the conference in rushing. Wand closed his career finishing in the top 10 in school history in rushing yards.


McKenzie’s impact was felt during his second season, helping the Red Wolves rank No. 10 in the nation in total offense, averaging a school-record 494.8 yards per game. The unit also accounted for 10 combined touchdowns as the team ranked No. 13 in the country in scoring offense with 37.8 points per game. In that season, Wand and Johnson combined for 1,145 yards and nine touchdowns.


In McKenzie’s first season in 2016, the Red Wolves won a Sun Belt Conference championship with a 7-1 record and defeated UCF 31-13 in the Cure Bowl. During that campaign, Wand and junior Johnston White combined to rush for 1,351 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wand, a second-team all-conference honoree, rushed for a team-high 879 yards, while also posting 24 receptions for 279 yards and three more scores.


Before his stint at Arkansas State, McKenzie spent five seasons at Furman, serving as the running backs coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.


While coaching at Furman, McKenzie instructed a pair of All-Southern Conference running backs and two others who were named to the league’s All-Freshman team. Jerodis Williams was a two-time All-SoCon choice after rushing for 2,225 yards and 20 touchdowns over his junior and senior campaigns, in addition to earning All-America honors in 2012 when he led the FCS in kickoff returns (35.9 avg., 2 TDs).


McCloud, who completed his career ranked 10th in Furman rushing history, garnered all-conference recognition in 2013 after running for 1,110 yards and five scores. Triston Luke rushed for 385 yards and a pair of scores in 2015 to find a place on the league’s All-Freshman team, while Marcus Anderson earned the recognition in 2013 when he posted 334 rushing yards and two touchdowns.


McKenzie helped lead Furman to a 2013 SoCon championship and several victories over FCS nationally-ranked teams, including No. 5 Wofford in 2011. The Paladins also knocked off then-FCS member and No. 3-ranked Appalachian State in 2011.


A Powder Springs, Ga., native and former football standout at McEachern (Ga.) High School, McKenzie was a four-year football letterman for Vanderbilt (2001-04), where he rushed for 1,411 career yards. He battled back from a serious leg injury his sophomore year to lead Vanderbilt in rushing as both a junior and senior.


McKenzie earned an undergraduate degree in secondary education, political science, and American history in 2005. He completed his master’s degree in education at Vanderbilt in 2010.


Following graduation, he began his coaching career at Hiram (Ga.) High School, working two seasons there before returning to Vanderbilt as a graduate assistant coach for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns.


The 2008 season saw him help Vanderbilt post its first winning season (7-6) since 1982 and a 16-14 victory over Boston College in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl – the program’s first bowl victory since 1955. McKenzie assumed the duties of assistant recruiting coordinator, while also helping with player development and coordinating the Gridiron Club for former Commodore letter winners, in 2010.


McKenzie is the father of one daughter, Anaya, and he and his wife Amber have a son, Storm.
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