Louisville football has found 'the guy' in running backs competition

Jake Lourim | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Louisville's Bobby Petrino: 'Can't wait to see how freshman play' on upcoming season First three days will have split practices and fans will be able to see team August 11

Louisville football's running backs competition may have an early leader. Running backs coach Kolby Smith, who said earlier this summer that redshirt junior Trey Smith was the top back, said Smith has maintained his advantage.

"Trey is the guy," Kolby Smith said. "He did a great job of earning it, and I don't see him letting it go."

Kolby Smith, 33 years old with nonstop energy, bounced into the lobby of the team's practice building after practice Saturday.

"What up!" he exclaimed. Asked if he could still play, the former Louisville running back answered, "I wish!"

He seemed excited about where his group of backs stands after a brutal spring that saw every scholarship running back battling an injury by the time the spring game came around.

But Kolby Smith, seeking a silver lining, said the injuries meant more opportunities for the remaining backs.

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Trey Smith, the oldest running back on the roster, drew praise from his coaches during the spring and again Saturday.

"He does a good job running, this spring did a good job of really being patient on his runs and getting up in those little small cracks," Kolby Smith said. "Thought he showed great vision. Definitely brings toughness. He's probably one of the best pass blockers on the team. Does a good job of being violent with his hands."

After a summer of healing, Louisville opened preseason practice Friday with Trey Smith, redshirt sophomore Dae Williams, redshirt freshman Colin Wilson and junior Malik Staples, plus true freshmen Javian Hawkins and Hassan Hall, all healthy.

Asked if he thinks it's finally his time after earning just 32 carries in his first three seasons, Trey Smith said, "I really do hope so. I've been working my butt off just trying to get on the field. I've been trying to prove to the coaches that I'm working, trying to prove to my teammates that I've been working."

Smith's father, Jimmy, played in the NFL from 1992-2005 and made five Pro Bowls with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Trey said through some difficult times in his first three years, his father told him even he faced struggles finding playing time at first.

"Just going back and watching the film and just running it back in my mind, that really helped a lot, and advice from my dad," Trey Smith said. "Just keeping my spirits up, because there's a lot of times when I feel down — will I ever play here? — so the whole team has really been keeping me up."

Jake Lourim: 502-582-4168; jlourim@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @jakelourim. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jakel.