Photo by: Annabelle Merz | Louisville Athletics
Barclay, Brown and Watson Looking for Repeat Performance
March 07, 2025 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville running backs coach Chris Barclay couldn't have asked more from his true freshmen running backs in 2024. The Cardinals were one of the top rushing teams in the nation and the Atlantic Coast Conference because of the emergence of his superstar tandem.
When the 2024 season started, no one knew what to expect from true freshmen Isaac Brown and Duke Watson. It was true that Brown was a preseason All-American, but it wasn't apparent how impactful this duo could be in their rookie seasons.
"I think we started the season, and Duke was a fifth string tailback against Austin Peay, and Isaac was the fourth string tailback, running backs coach Chris Barclay said. "As soon as you put them in the game, it was just like fireworks. Duke runs, at that time, the smallest back in the room. He runs like his 200 pounds. And he's fearless. He has great contact balance, kind of, they're kind of opposite. Isaac is wired differently. He loves the game, but he's not immersed in it."
After averaging 185.2 yards per game on the ground last season, the Cards bring back their running back room that contributed 134.0 yards per game. Brown led the way with an average of 90.2 yards per contest and Watson added 49.8 yards per game.
"To have some experience back in two really, really talented guys like that, it's impressive," running backs coach Chris Barclay said. "Just to see the growth from them, who came a year ago- even him talking, he's getting better. He's coming out of the shell. He is expressing more confidence, playing with more confidence. Duke is the same, even though this is his first spring. It's been impressive."
Brown broke on the scene with the best season by a freshman running back in school history. The native of Homestead, Fla., set a school record for true freshman running backs by rushing for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns, while securing five 100-yard rushing game. He was the Most Valuable Player in the school's 41-14 win over Kentucky, the program's first victory over the Wildcats in five seasons.
"I was actually surprised when I looked at the numbers," Barclay said. Isaac averaged four yards after contact on the season. For him to be as small as he was, he uses his velocity to gain yards, and power through. And he does have some more body strength. There's more than we can achieve as he puts on weight and gains mass and muscle strength, I think he can start to power through some of those tackles that may last year have resulted in four year four more yards, and maybe now results in 40 more and now we're in the end zone."
Watson, a Georgia native, rushed for 597 yards and seven touchdowns, but more impressive, the newcomer led the nation by averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Watson had a pair of 100-yard games as a freshman rushing for 117 yards against Stanford and 104 against Kentucky.
"He's fearless. He has great contact balance," Barclay said. "In that regard, it's hard to push him off balance. He's like a cat, you know, you can't really drop on his head. He's he has really, he does a really good job of adjusting to forces around him, upper body and lower body. He's got great instincts. And I think just the toughest that he displayed was what shocked us."
The Cardinals will take next week off for Spring Break until returning to action on March 17.
When the 2024 season started, no one knew what to expect from true freshmen Isaac Brown and Duke Watson. It was true that Brown was a preseason All-American, but it wasn't apparent how impactful this duo could be in their rookie seasons.
"I think we started the season, and Duke was a fifth string tailback against Austin Peay, and Isaac was the fourth string tailback, running backs coach Chris Barclay said. "As soon as you put them in the game, it was just like fireworks. Duke runs, at that time, the smallest back in the room. He runs like his 200 pounds. And he's fearless. He has great contact balance, kind of, they're kind of opposite. Isaac is wired differently. He loves the game, but he's not immersed in it."
After averaging 185.2 yards per game on the ground last season, the Cards bring back their running back room that contributed 134.0 yards per game. Brown led the way with an average of 90.2 yards per contest and Watson added 49.8 yards per game.
"To have some experience back in two really, really talented guys like that, it's impressive," running backs coach Chris Barclay said. "Just to see the growth from them, who came a year ago- even him talking, he's getting better. He's coming out of the shell. He is expressing more confidence, playing with more confidence. Duke is the same, even though this is his first spring. It's been impressive."
Brown broke on the scene with the best season by a freshman running back in school history. The native of Homestead, Fla., set a school record for true freshman running backs by rushing for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns, while securing five 100-yard rushing game. He was the Most Valuable Player in the school's 41-14 win over Kentucky, the program's first victory over the Wildcats in five seasons.
"I was actually surprised when I looked at the numbers," Barclay said. Isaac averaged four yards after contact on the season. For him to be as small as he was, he uses his velocity to gain yards, and power through. And he does have some more body strength. There's more than we can achieve as he puts on weight and gains mass and muscle strength, I think he can start to power through some of those tackles that may last year have resulted in four year four more yards, and maybe now results in 40 more and now we're in the end zone."
Watson, a Georgia native, rushed for 597 yards and seven touchdowns, but more impressive, the newcomer led the nation by averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Watson had a pair of 100-yard games as a freshman rushing for 117 yards against Stanford and 104 against Kentucky.
"He's fearless. He has great contact balance," Barclay said. "In that regard, it's hard to push him off balance. He's like a cat, you know, you can't really drop on his head. He's he has really, he does a really good job of adjusting to forces around him, upper body and lower body. He's got great instincts. And I think just the toughest that he displayed was what shocked us."
The Cardinals will take next week off for Spring Break until returning to action on March 17.
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