Louisville defensive back Marlon Character living up to hype after earning first start

Cameron Teague Robinson | Courier Journal

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The starting defensive back position, opposite Chandler Jones, has passed hands multiple times this season.

Cornelius Sturghill opened the season as the starter before Anthony Johnson took over midway through the year. Both have played well this season, but the starting spot changed hands one more time before the Virginia game.

Marlon Character, ranked as the No. 1 junior college safety in 2018 coming out of Northwest Mississippi Community College, earned the first start of his career. He impressed many, including defensive coordinator Bryan Brown.

The Atlanta native recorded seven tackles, a sack and had a pass breakup. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 195 pounds, he is one of the most athletic players in the secondary, coach Scott Satterfield said.

"He is probably one of our most athletic players in the secondary," Satterfield said. “He’s been practicing better," Satterfield said. "He’s been putting the work in and coach Brown wanted to give him an opportunity and he played well.”

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But he’s also, according to Brown, the most talented player in the secondary.

“Hands down period,” Brown said.

It was just matter of time until Character got his chance to start, but he wanted to make the most of it when he did.

“It felt great to get my feet wet a lot more than I thought I would, but I just kept my head in the game, made some plays and our defense played great,” Character said.

When evaluating the defensive backs in the spring Brown never doubted Character’s talent. There were just times when the junior struggled to pick up Brown’s defensive scheme.

A year after arriving at Louisville and learning one defensive scheme, Character had to switch gears to adapt to Brown's style. It took him time to get up to speed.

"It’s tough for some guys to pick it up really quickly and we haven’t even been here a year yet and it’s taken him a little bit longer, but he’s gotten a lot better,” Brown said. “Why not play one of the best guys on the defense? If he’s one of the best we wanted to get him out there and we are glad he’s able to pick it up as well as he had.”

Brown knew though that it was only a matter of time before he picked up the scheme and mixed his talent with the mental aspect. That time came a few weeks ago.

"You could tell he was more locked in,” Brown said. “Seeing him watching a lot more film and answering a lot more questions than he normally would.”

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It didn’t take Character long to make a play against Virginia. On Virginia’s second possession of the game, it was facing a third-and-14. Character, reading the receiver in front of him who cut inside for a slant, broke on the route and broke up the pass before it reached his hands.

It was his first pass breakup and Virginia was forced to punt.

“When he is out there he gives us a chance to play tighter coverage and make tackles and that’s what we need in the secondary,” Brown said. “You have to make tackles and you have to make plays on the ball.”

Later in the game, on a second-and-10, Character blitzed from the edge and went untouched to sack quarterback Bryce Perkins before he even realized Character was coming. Virginia was forced to punt one play later.

While it was the first time many saw those types plays from Character, his teammates said that’s what he is capable of.

"He can do whatever we ask him to do. He can play the nickel position too or do whatever you want,” Avery said. “He’s a great player.”

Paired with Jones, Louisville’s starting defensive backs combined for 15 tackles and three pass breakups. Jones also added an interception.

The emergence of Character doesn’t mean the Cardinals have forgotten about Johnson and Sturghill. Both played against Virginia and will continue to provide the Cardinals with depth at defensive back.

For now it’s looking like Character has earned another start opposite Jones in the secondary. The coaching staff is now hoping he continues to improve, adding another talented corner on the field.

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Cameron Teague Robinson CTeagueRob@gannett.com; Twitter: @cj_teague; Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.