2005 Cardinal Football Outlook - Offensive Line
August 11, 2005 | Football
Aug. 11, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the Louisville football team's 2005 season-opener at Kentucky fast-approaching, UofLSports.com will be providing a daily preview of the Cards' first season in the BIG EAST Conference. Today's second installment looks at the Cards' offensive line.
2005 Louisville Offensive Line
Returning five players with valuable starting experience from 2004 and with the addition of two junior-college transfers, offensive line coach Mike Summers will have the luxury of one of the deepest units on the team.
The only loss came at center with the graduation of Will Rabatin. Spitz has moved to center in fall camp. A second team All-Conference performer at guard last year, Spitz has started 25 straight games for the Cardinals and is one of the top offensive linemen in the nation.
At 6-4, 308 pounds, Spitz has the size and the smarts to be one of the best centers in college football.
Red-shirt freshman Eric Wood, who spent last season at tackle, will work at center and guard. Wood will have to make the transition, but could provide much needed depth at the center position.
The guard position is solid with the return of senior Kurt Quarterman. One of the biggest guards in the nation at 348 pounds, Quarterman stepped in last season and started all 12 contests. He showed good toughness and speed, and helped the Cardinals become one of the top offenses in the country. Sophomore Danny Barlowe received game experience last year at guard and is still developing, but works hard and will continue to get better.
Leffew has been a mainstay in the Cardinal lineup, starting 38 straight games. A third team Associated Press All-American, Leffew was a first team All-Conference USA performer and has the athleticism to be one of the best tackles in the country.
When Foster went down last season, no one knew what to expect. However, Darveau stepped in and the Cardinal offense never missed a beat. Darveau, who transferred to Louisville from Dodge City Community College, started seven games and provided the Cardinals with another big and athletic body on the front line. Junior-college transfer Marcel Benson is very talented and will push immediately for playing time. He was a first team All-Conference performer at San Diego Mesa College last season, having started 20 straight games at tackle.
The return of Foster gives the Cardinals a big lift up front. He gives the Cardinals another big, athletic body on the line. He has worked out at guard this summer and looks to be ready to go full speed. Junior Michael Sturgeon has moved all along the offensive line, but will settle at tackle.
The Cardinals added depth during signing period signing with the addition of least four players who can step in and play right away. Benson from San Diego Mesa College is a big, talented player who could see action at tackle, while Marcus Gordon, from Highland Community College, was at U of L during the spring and could add depth at the guard position. The Cardinals did sign two incoming freshmen who are a pair of big-time signees in Brian Roche from Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) and Mike Donoghue from Covington Catholic (Ky.).
