Senorise Perry to start at RB for Louisville over Michael Dyer

C.L. Brown | USA TODAY Sports

Louisville coach Charlie Strong announced Monday that running back Senorise Perry earned the starting spot for the season opener against Ohio.

It was the most closely contested position battle in camp with Dominique Brown and Michael Dyer making a major push for playing time.

Strong said he wasn't sure how offensive coordinator Shawn Watson would handle the rotation of backs. Brown, Dyer and sophomore Corvin Lamb will also get carries against the Bobcats. But Perry will get the first opportunity.

"When we trot out there for that first play, Senorise will trot out there with the first offense," Strong said.

Perry was the Cards leading rusher last season until he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament on Nov. 10 against Syracuse. His quick return to play at the start of the season drew comparisons to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

"It's amazing the training camp that he's had," Strong said. "You would never have thought that he had a knee injury at all."

C.L. Brown writes for the Louisville Courier-Journal, a Gannett property.