2005 Cardinal Football Outlook - Running Backs
August 17, 2005 | Football
Aug. 17, 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 fifth installment looks at the Cards' running backs.
2005 Louisville Running Backs
Last year, the running back position was one of the deepest units on the team with four quality running backs competing for carries. In 2005, despite the loss of the Lionel Gates and Eric Shelton, the competition will be just as fierce and competitive.
Junior Michael Bush enters the fall as one of the featured backs. He played in all 12 games, rushing for 734 yards and seven touchdowns. He brings a combination of size and speed to the position and is also one of the best receivers out of the backfield. He caught 11 passes last year after catching 17 in 2003.
The 245-pound product of Male High School had a season-best 106 yards versus Cincinnati and carried 12 times for 96 yards in the Cards' bowl game win over Boise State.
Battling Bush is another junior in Kolby Smith. Sacrificing personal statistics by starting at fullback, Smith will get increased playing time with Bush. Smith is a big play back, who makes things happen every time he touches the football. The 225-pounder ran for a career-best 347 yards, four touchdowns and averaged a stellar 9.4 yards per carry. In a 55-7 win over Tulane, Smith carried six times for a personal-best 86 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Reggie Bradshaw received playing time last year and showed glimpses of being productive. Bradshaw rushed for 116 yards on 32 carries and scored one touchdown. A valuable special teams performer a year ago, he will get a long look this fall to see how he fits into the Cardinals' plan for 2005.
Red-shirt freshman George Stripling impressed the coaching staff in the spring with his work on the second unit. Stripling has good speed and vision and could contribute in 2005.
Junior Deriontae Taylor proved to be a valuable blocker at the fullback position last season and looks to fill that roll again this spring.
