Louisville's Quincy Riley Playing Like 'A Totally Different Person' in Spring Practice

Fueled by trying to improve both his body and mind over the offseason, the cornerback for the Cardinals has greatly elevated his play during spring ball.

Sep 16, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers tight end Bradley Archer (82) runs the / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When you look at the current roster for the Louisville football program and try and pick out who you think will be some of the more high-impact defensive players for the 2024 season, a lot of the players you will name are likely going to be transfers.

Cornerbacks Tahveon Nicholson and Corey Thornton, plus defensive linemen Thor Griffith, Jordan Guerad and Tyler Baron are all four-star transfers per On3. Safeties Tamarion McDonald and Wesley Walker have both been standing out through the first half of spring ball. Jurriente Davis is a player whom the staff likes at linebacker.

That all being said, one of Louisville's best defensive players - and one of their top players on the roster overall - is a returner and former transfer who is coming back for his third season with the Cardinals. After debating on declaring early for the NFL, cornerback Quincy Riley decided that he wanted to come back to Louisville for his final year in college.

It's not Riley didn't have a case to be selected in the NFL Draft. Ever since making the jump from Middle Tennessee ahead of the 2022 season, Riley has been a crucial component of Louisville's secondary. This past 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. He also collected 49 tackles and 1.5 for loss in the process.

However, Riley still had things he wanted to accomplish. One of which was getting his Masters degree from the University of Louisville, something that cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis says "speaks volumes" regarding who he is as a young man.

"He really embodies what a student-athlete should be," Ellis said.

On the football side of things, despite his overall body of work up to this point, Riley believed that he still had plenty left he could work. Before coming to a decision on his future, Riley took a 30,000-foot approach to everything.

Starting with what he saw in the film room, he crafted a list of pros and cons that came with his upcoming decision. He then consulted with Ellis, defensive coordinator Ron English and head coach Jeff Brohm on not only what he should decide, but his plan of attack should he decide to return to the Cards.

"When you talk about the football side of it, I think Quincy it took a global approach," Ellis said. "When you get a chance to step back, and he watched the film from last year, there were things he felt like he wanted to get better at. After the season, he has some pros and some cons, he met with Me, Coach English and Brohm to discuss those issues. We got a chance to have a direct plan that we gave him to come back with.

First and foremost, Riley wanted to vastly improve his physique and athleticism. Throughout most of last season, the cornerback hovered around the 182-pound mark. While Riley still performed well last season, he knew his potential could be further unlocked by working on both his mind and body.

"I wanted to get bigger, fastest and stronger," Riley said. Working with (strength coach Dominic) Reno this offseason, (director of sports medicine) Shawn Love and our nutritionist, they've gotten me to the point where I'm in a position where I've never felt this good before. My body weight is up, I'm leaner, it just feels amazing right now."

Heading into spring ball, which started in mid-March, Riley was able to bulk all the way up to 195 pounds. The difference in both his physique and athelticism has been very noticeable.

"I think when you look at Quincy now, it's a totally different person," Ellis said. "Some times I don't really know who he is, and that's the way it should be. He's professional. He's about his business. ... The leadership that he's showing throughout this spring ball is really tremendous. Good player, but better person."

But making physical strides was one thing. Riley also wanted to take the next step from a mental standpoint, and further improve his already deep knowledge of the game of football. This meant even more intensive film studies, taking even more notes than what is normally expected from a veteran player, and other things of that nature.

Through the first seven practice sessions of spring ball for Louisville, Riley has been making plays that have continuously caught the eyes of the coaching staff.

"He made a couple plays this spring that a freshman or sophomore probably wouldn't have made," Ellis said. His IQ of football right now is through the roof. He's studying tape, he's watching film, he texts me at all hours of the night just watching film on his iPad asking about things he can get better at."

Perhaps most importantly, Riley hasn't allowed himself - or his teammates - to become comfortable. Complacency is the enemy of progress, and Riley is making sure that not only his position group, but the team as a whole is dedicated to getting better each and every day, and not settling back into old habits.

"It's my job as a coach to make it uncomfortable," Ellis said. "I got to point out every issue, even to the minute degree. I think he is taking that approach this spring of: 'I want to be the best.' Most importantly, how can I create that brotherhood with this group to bring everybody along? Your attitude is contagious. Are you gonna bring guys with you?

"That's one of the things that's really stood out to me, is his attitude being contagious. Guys are following him, not only just in our DB room, but amongst the whole team also."

(Photo of Quincy Riley: Trevor Ruszkowski - USA TODAY Sports)

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