U of L football's top 10 players for 2015

On Wednesday, it’ll be only 10 days until the University of Louisville football team opens the season against Auburn in Atlanta. Before we count down those 10 days, let’s count down one reporter’s list of U of L’s 10 best players – and their accompanying credentials – for the 2015 season.

10. TE Cole Hikutini – After an All-America season at City College of San Francisco in which he caught 40 passes for 658 yards and four touchdowns, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Hikutini has emerged as a likely key target in the Cardinals’ passing game after the departure of Gerald Christian. A former player at FCS-level Sacramento State, Hikutini said he recently ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash. Here’s predicting that he’ll one day be a standout in NFL Combine testing.

9. OLB DeVonte Fields – Fields, who spent at least the first half of training camp on the second-team defense, is maybe the hardest U of L player to rank, because the late-arriving JUCO transfer is no guarantee to start against Auburn. However, he’s as talented anyone on the team and already has one sensational major-college season to his credit. Fields (6-4, 245) made 18.5 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks, and was the Big 12 defensive player of the year as a freshman at TCU in 2012.

8. DT DeAngelo Brown – The 6-foot, 308-pound Brown made only 20 tackles last year, but the powerful, technically sound nose tackle is critical to the Cards, who will try to match or exceed last year’s 10th-ranked run defense. Brown, who can bench-press about 500 pounds, is often too much for a center or guard to handle alone, so he tends to command a double team, freeing up teammates to make tackles.

7. DE Pio Vatuvei – Vatuvei posted modest numbers (18 tackles, including 4.5 for loss in 11 games) in his first season at U of L after transferring from junior college. A more robust senior year could be in store. Big and fast and with a motor that goes full-speed nonstop, Vatuvei was an animal in the Cards’ open practices early in training camp, constantly busting his way into the backfield.

6. WR James Quick – The lightning-fast junior from Trinity High School could be primed for a breakout year after moving inside to slot receiver, where he’ll be able to exploit matchups against safeties or linebackers. Quick’s clearly the new leader of the overhauled wide receiving corps, and his work ethic has been praised repeatedly this preseason. He had 36 catches for 566 yards and three TDs in 2014, and here’s predicting those numbers go up significantly.

5. RB Brandon Radcliff – The powerful, explosive Radcliff led U of L in rushing yards (737), touchdowns (12) and 100-yard games (three) last year. The Maxwell Award watch list member stepped up in key moments, averaging a whopping 10 yards on third-down runs and raising his overall average per carry from 4.7 yards in the first half to 5.4 in the second. Coach Bobby Petrino said Radcliff reminds him of the Energizer Bunny because he keeps going and going.

4. MLB Keith Kelsey – Kelsey (6-1, 236) started all 13 games as a sophomore last year and was second on the team (and first among returning players) with 87 tackles, including seven for loss. He’s regarded as one of U of L’s smartest, most technically sound players. He and James Burgess – the self-dubbed “Bash Brothers” – will be one of the ACC’s most solid inside-backer duos.

3. S Josh Harvey-Clemons – Here’s predicting a huge first year at U of L for the Georgia transfer. At 6-5, 230 pounds, Harvey-Clemons is probably the biggest safety in college football, but he also can really run and jump and will be a threat to intercept any pass a QB tries to throw over his head. The former five-star recruit made 66 tackles in 11 starts for UGA in 2013, and in playing U of L’s “star” position – a defensive back/outside linebacker hybrid of sorts – he’ll be key in run support and as a blitz option.

2. MLB James Burgess – The athletic, intelligent senior was third on the team with 71 tackles, including 10 for a loss, last year, and his experience (30 starts) and sound play-making are mentioned by U of L’s coaches just about every time they recap a practice. A preseason All-ACC pick and Nagurski and Butkus award watch list member, Burgess is excellent in pass coverage and had three interceptions last season.

1. DE Sheldon Rankins – Rankins tops these rankings. The 6-2, 303-pound All-ACC pick – and Nagurski and Bednarik watch list member – led U of L with 13.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks last season, and his size and mobility make him ideal for a 3-4 defense. He’s U of L’s only big D-lineman who plays every down, and he’s known for his savvy technique. He can serve as a big, run-stopping end on first and second downs, then can slide over to tackle on third down and remain a pass-rushing threat. Here’s predicting he’ll be highly coveted in the 2016 NFL draft.

Next Five: CB Shaq Wiggins, WR Ja’Quay Savage, OT Aaron Epps, OLB Keith Brown, K John Wallace.

READ ABOUT THE CARDS' RIVALS: The C-J's Kyle Tucker did the same top 10 rankings for the University of Kentucky