Brohm, English Impressed Early by Louisville's Transfer Cornerbacks
In this story:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Last season, the Louisville football program - despite head coach Jeff Brohm being more so known for his prowess as an offensive-minded coach - was anchored by an incredibly strong and efficient defense. Through the ACC Championship Game, the Cardinals had the No. 16 total defense in the FBS, and the No. 20 scoring defense.
That being said, it wasn't without weaknesses. Their secondary was hit-or-miss at times, and did not end the season on a string not. In fact, Louisville gave up 300 or more passing yards in three of their last five games of the year, including a season-high 372 in their 42-28 loss to USC in the Holiday Bowl.
With this in mind, Louisville was very decisive when it came to navigating the transfer portal. Among other positions, the secondary was one of their top areas of focus in portal. As of this writing, the Cardinals have brought in four transfer defensive backs for their 2024 roster, including three cornerbacks.
While Louisville's transfer newcomers have only been on campus for just over two months, the trio of transfer cornerbacks have already impressed the coaching staff.
"I like all three (transfer) corners," co-defensive coordinator Ron English said when asked which newcomers have impressed the most since arriving on campus. "Those dudes are real dudes. ... Those guys can play now. They're dudes. Them dudes are dudes.
"I saw tape, and I said, "Okay, these are real dudes." I know on tape, they don't shy away from contact and they are competitive and all that, but watching them out there, we're as good at that position at a school that I've been in a long time. Anything can happen, but I'm just saying that, right now, that position is a real position."
The three cornerbacks in questions are Illinois' Tahveon Nicholson, UCF's Corey Thornton and UNC's Tayon Holloway. All three corners have already well established themselves as quality defensive backs.
Nicholson was been a regular component in the Illini secondary for the past two seasons, and his coming off of his most productive year in college. Playing in all 12 regular season games in 2023 while starting 11, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound corner logged 36 tackles, two for loss, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Thornton is also coming off of his best coverage season at the college level. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback hauled in three interceptions and logged nine pass breakups, while also finishing with 27 total tackles in 12 games.
Holloway saw his role on the UNC defense increase this past season after redshirting his true freshman campaign in 2022. Playing in 10 total games along with six starts, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound corner logged 19 total tackles, 1.5 for loss and one pass breakup.
This trio of newcomers have already started to turn heads in practice, too. Louisville kicked off their over month-long spring practice earlier this week, and just one session in, they are already starting to make plays.
"We have added some key components in that area to help us," Brohm said Tuesday following Louisville's first spring practice. "We want to make sure we're getting better at defending the pass and in pass coverage, both at the corner position and safety position and there's quite a bit of depth there right now.
"We got to mesh it together and let those guys play aggressive, challenge things. Let them go for interceptions. Make the big play, get the pass break up. But I've seen some potential. Today without question, there were some newcomers in the secondary, especially at corner that did a really good job."
Of course, Louisville is also bringing back one of their top defensive playmakers from last season in cornerback Quincy Riley, who English says is "already much bigger" and made several plays during the first day of practice. Both him and Brohm are also very complimentary of redshirt freshman Aaron Williams - who had to miss all of last season with a torn ACL - and his early showings in spring.
Put it all together, and English has nothing but exceptionally high praise for Louisville's cornerback room.
"This is one of the best corner rooms I've been around in a long time," he said. "You got five guys that can play."
(Photo of Tayon Holloway via University of Louisville Athletics)
You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report
You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter
