Louisville CB Quincy Riley Returning for 2024 Season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville football program's secondary is retaining arguably their biggest asset for year two under Jeff Brohm.

Redshirt junior cornerback Quincy Riley has decided that he is bypassing the 2024 NFL Draft and will be returning to the Cardinals for the 2024 season, announcing the decision Friday on social media.

“I’m Back,” Riley said in a graphic posted to Instagram. “God has different plans for me and I 100% belleve in everything he does, This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. Since I was a little boy I have dreamed of that next level, however it does not correlate with the plan right now.”

Ever since making the jump from Middle Tennessee ahead of the 2022 season, Riley has been a crucial component of Louisville's secondary. This season, 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC.

Riley finished the 2023 season with a team-best 11 pass breakups and second on the Cardinals in interceptions with three, tying for the ACC lead with 14 pass defenses. However, while also collecting 49 tackles and 1.5 for loss in the process, he was only voted as an All-ACC honorable mention.

The Columbia, S.C. native made an instant impact upon transferring to Louisville from MTSU for the 2022 season. That year, he led the Cardinals in interceptions with three including a pick-six, while also logging 27 tackles, one for loss, a sack, and two pass breakups.

Riley spent the first three years of his collegiate career with the Blue Raiders, and during his final season in Murfreesboro, he was one of the top defensive backs in the Group of Five. His five interceptions were tied for fourth in all of FBS, while also logging 14 pass defenses, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Riley heads into his redshirt senior season with 126 total tackles (91 solo), 8.0 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 13 interceptions and 27 pass breakups in 44 career games at both Middle Tennessee State and Louisville.

Despite losing both Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Storm Duck to the NFL Draft, cornerback is shaping up to be a strong position group on Louisville's defense in 2024. On top of Riley coming back, the Cardinals are also bringing in UCF's Corey Thornton and UNC’s Tayon Holloway, with plenty of quality depth behind them.

The Cardinals finished their 2023 season with an overall mark of 10-4 (7-1 in ACC) including a berth in the program's first ever ACC Championship Game, but ended year one under head coach Jeff Brohm on a three-game losing streak.

(Photo of Quincy Riley: Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports)

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