Branch, Cards Have Deep Wide Receiver Room

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The wide receiver position at the University of Louisville has typically been one of the most talented and deep positions on the roster, and that's no different in 2025.

While Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy are the two top returners, the Cardinals have built a deep wide receiver room that should help continue the UofL offense to be one of the most explosive in the country.

A senior, Bell caught 43 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, and was the team's big-play threat. Bell averaged 17.1 yards per reception and seven catches of over 30 yards. Lacy, who was hurt in fall camp, played in only five games catching 18 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown.

Led by first-year wide receiver coach Deion Branch, who is a former Super Bowl MVP, the Cardinals' wide receiver unit is off to a good start through three days of fall camp.

"So not only the older guys are doing well, even the young guys are doing a great job for us," Branch said. "I'm loving everything. I'm super happy about the opportunity that I get to help influence these guys. Everyone is doing really well. They're ahead of schedule. Coach Brohm has thrown a lot of plays at them."

The Cardinals added a few key pieces this spring in former NC State wide receiver Dacari Collins and San Jose State transfer Treyshun Hurry to go along with the development of Antonio Meeks and Kris Hughes.

"Hughes and Meeks were here, and we brought in two transfers guys in Collins and Hurry," Branch said. Iron sharpens iron. So I ask them are we going to compete? I'm charting everything in practice. Everything has been highly competitive. I put a lot on my guys and I want to see them respond."

A former walk-on, Hughes earned a scholarship last season after catching seven passes for 54 yards in limited action., but the native of Kentucky is ready to embrace his role as one of the expected members of the rotation..

"I knew with people graduating that I would have to take a larger role in the offense," Hughes said. "I just wanted to step up and help the team anyway that I can."

Collins is coming in after catching 24 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns at NC State last season. A wide receiver with outstanding size, Collins is just trying to adjust to his third school.

"I love being with the guys who want to work," Collins said. "I've enjoyed being here. Our position alone can take our team pretty far."

For Branch, he knows the position inside-and-out. He has 11 years in the National Football League and played the position at the highest level. However, he's still learning how to coach in the Brohm program.

"I'm good in the room and actually coaching line, it's getting the plays from coach Brohm and Brian Brohm is the piece that that- I'm not struggling with it, but it's a million plays." Branch said. "The thing is, I'm receiving a million plays, it's not just one player per position, I have to learn all four, and that's the thing. But I got the cheat code, because I have coach Mason Petrino. He's right here on my side, he's doing an amazing job of helping me with all the things that I'm stumbling with. I think by the time the season gets here, Coach Petrino will have me right."

The Cardinals return to action on Monday morning at 9:45 a.m.

University of Louisville Athletics

Players Mentioned

Chris Bell

Dacari Collins

Kris Hughes

Caullin Lacy

Antonio Meeks

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