Bonnafon Excels in his New and Expanded Role
November 18, 2015 | Football
Reggie Bonnafon tossed a touchdown pass last week in the 38-31 win over Virginia.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville sophomore Reggie Bonnafon is the ultimate team player and one of the best teammates, according to his coaching staff.
After trotting out as the starting quarterback Sept. 5 versus Auburn, the former Trinity High standout was replaced as the quarterback, but he wasn't benched. The coaching staff didn't want to waste Bonnafon's athletic ability, and they decided to get another athlete on the field so they transitioned him into a new and expanded role:
Bonnafon has been used in a number of different roles in recent weeks to help the Cardinals win six of their last seven games to improve to 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the ACC. He is fourth on the team in rushing with 162 yards and has caught seven passes for 88 yards in his new, exciting role.
Playing in the backfield last week in the 38-31 win over Virginia, Bonnafon took to pitch ran left and used his quarterback skills to find freshman Jaylen Smith for a 21-yard touchdown pass. The first of the career for Smith and Bonnafon's second of the year. It was a glimpse of what Bonnafon means to this football team.
"These kids have a tremendous attitude about winning games," offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. "Whatever we can do to win' – and their role right now is to run out on the field and ignite our team. I think they're taking pride in it."
It felt good for Bonnafon to throw a touchdown pass again for the first time since a 45-3 win over Samford on Sept .26. That was a long time ago, but Bonnafon was just excited to be able to add points on the board to help the team win.
"It's always fun to get six points on the board however you get that, it is what it is," Bonnafon said. "It was a good play call. We executed it all week in practice. It was fun to get out there and do something."
With his new role of playing running back, wide receiver and being the back-up quarterback, you would expect him to be overwhelmed with the terminology or the expectations on each play, but being the quarterback, he knows what everyone is doing on every play.
"It's not too hard," Bonnafon said. ""Growing up I did this fairly often on different teams I played on," he said. "It's not too big of a transition. I enjoy it a lot just to be so versatile and be able to play so many different positions to help the offense and broaden our scheme. Whatever I can do to help the team move the ball down to the end zone and get
six points, I'm willing to do that."
McGee said Bonnafon has embraced his new role because that's what type of kid he is and expects Bonnafon to provide a spark when their number is called.
"I tell him, 'he's like the sixth man on the basketball team,'" McGee said. "He's supposed to run out there and make it happen. We're not putting those guys on the field just to continue what we're doing. 'We want you guys to go out there and excite our crowd, excite our team. That's your role.' Reggie's doing a good job of it, and he's really takes a lot of pride in it."
After being the starting quarterback, but now moving into a different, Bonnafon has had the opportunity to play with Kyle Bolin, who has won his last two starts. Bonnafon has been impressed by Bolin, who threw for 362 yards two weeks ago against Syracuse.
"He's played phenomenal," Bonnafon said, "taking control of the offense and being a leader out there on the field while the coaches are on the sideline during the game, just staying positive and keeping the offense upbeat."
Bonnafon and the rest of the offense will look for their fifth-straight win when the Cardinals take on Pittsburgh Saturday at 3:45 p.m. at Heinz Field.
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After trotting out as the starting quarterback Sept. 5 versus Auburn, the former Trinity High standout was replaced as the quarterback, but he wasn't benched. The coaching staff didn't want to waste Bonnafon's athletic ability, and they decided to get another athlete on the field so they transitioned him into a new and expanded role:
Bonnafon has been used in a number of different roles in recent weeks to help the Cardinals win six of their last seven games to improve to 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the ACC. He is fourth on the team in rushing with 162 yards and has caught seven passes for 88 yards in his new, exciting role.
Playing in the backfield last week in the 38-31 win over Virginia, Bonnafon took to pitch ran left and used his quarterback skills to find freshman Jaylen Smith for a 21-yard touchdown pass. The first of the career for Smith and Bonnafon's second of the year. It was a glimpse of what Bonnafon means to this football team.
"These kids have a tremendous attitude about winning games," offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. "Whatever we can do to win' – and their role right now is to run out on the field and ignite our team. I think they're taking pride in it."
It felt good for Bonnafon to throw a touchdown pass again for the first time since a 45-3 win over Samford on Sept .26. That was a long time ago, but Bonnafon was just excited to be able to add points on the board to help the team win.
"It's always fun to get six points on the board however you get that, it is what it is," Bonnafon said. "It was a good play call. We executed it all week in practice. It was fun to get out there and do something."
With his new role of playing running back, wide receiver and being the back-up quarterback, you would expect him to be overwhelmed with the terminology or the expectations on each play, but being the quarterback, he knows what everyone is doing on every play.
"It's not too hard," Bonnafon said. ""Growing up I did this fairly often on different teams I played on," he said. "It's not too big of a transition. I enjoy it a lot just to be so versatile and be able to play so many different positions to help the offense and broaden our scheme. Whatever I can do to help the team move the ball down to the end zone and get
six points, I'm willing to do that."
McGee said Bonnafon has embraced his new role because that's what type of kid he is and expects Bonnafon to provide a spark when their number is called.
"I tell him, 'he's like the sixth man on the basketball team,'" McGee said. "He's supposed to run out there and make it happen. We're not putting those guys on the field just to continue what we're doing. 'We want you guys to go out there and excite our crowd, excite our team. That's your role.' Reggie's doing a good job of it, and he's really takes a lot of pride in it."
After being the starting quarterback, but now moving into a different, Bonnafon has had the opportunity to play with Kyle Bolin, who has won his last two starts. Bonnafon has been impressed by Bolin, who threw for 362 yards two weeks ago against Syracuse.
"He's played phenomenal," Bonnafon said, "taking control of the offense and being a leader out there on the field while the coaches are on the sideline during the game, just staying positive and keeping the offense upbeat."
Bonnafon and the rest of the offense will look for their fifth-straight win when the Cardinals take on Pittsburgh Saturday at 3:45 p.m. at Heinz Field.
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