Freshmen stand out in Louisville football's first preseason scrimmage

Jake Lourim | Courier Journal

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The Louisville football team held its first scrimmage of the preseason Monday under the lights at Cardinal Stadium. The scrimmage was closed to reporters, and no coaches or players were available afterward.

The program sent out a release Monday night recapping the scrimmage, and said the team ran about 125 total plays. The first teams went against each other and second teams went against each other in the first half, and then the first-team offense faced the second-team defense, and vice versa.

Offense rolling

According to the release, the offensive units scored six touchdowns, five rushing, in the first half. Freshman Javian Hawkins, who has elicited good reviews early in camp, scored on a 68-yard run.

Related: Projecting Louisville's depth chart after a week of preseason practice

Louisville's offense (seven starters returning from a unit that finished third nationally in total yards per game) is further along on paper than its defense (three starters returning from a unit that finished 62nd). But coach Bobby Petrino said Saturday morning that the offense hadn't yet rediscovered the rhythm with which it ended the spring. Saturday night, the defensive backs played good defense against the wide receivers in pass skeleton drills.

The scrimmage indicates the offense is still the more polished unit. The first drive of the night was a nine-play touchdown drive, capped by Trey Smith's 5-yard score.

Hicks scores

True freshman linebacker Robert Hicks scored on defense by intercepting a deflected pass and returning it for a touchdown.

Hicks said in the spring he was working only at middle linebacker, where he would be blocked by sophomore Dorian Etheridge. But Hicks was Louisville's highest-rated incoming recruit — No. 240 nationally in 247sports.com's composite rankings, a four-star prospect — and if he lives up to that billing, the coaches might have to find a spot for him.

From 2017: Louisville lands commitment from 4-star LB Robert Hicks III

Etheridge is a middle linebacker but still played almost every snap last season alongside Stacy Thomas. It wouldn't be surprising to see Hicks edge his way onto the field as an outside linebacker, as another middle in a 3-4 package or on special teams.

Briefly

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Puma Pass threw a touchdown to Micky Crum and ran for two more scores. ... Redshirt junior Devante Peete also caught a long touchdown pass in the scrimmage. He's an intriguing wide receiver if he can stay healthy, with good size (6-foot-6) and maybe the best hands on the team in the open workout Saturday night. ... Other players who earned mention in Louisville's release were running back Hassan Hall, cornerback Chandler Jones and running back Colin Wilson. ... The team is off Tuesday but returns to practice Wednesday morning.

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