By Annie Moore–
Many of the players that Louisville fans have tuned in to watch on Saturdays, can now been seen on Sundays, playing football at the highest level. There are 30 former Cardinals currently playing for teams across the National Football League.
After a strong showing at the 2014 NFL draft, in which three Cardinals were selected in the first round, the 2015 draft was one of the most successful for any university in the country. There were 10 players taken in the 2015 NFL Draft from the University of Louisville, second only to ACC rival Florida State, which had 11.
More and more, players who have had an impact at the college level in Louisville, are impacting teams at the next level. Without a doubt the most famous former Cardinal in the league right now is Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater was taking with the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 draft and by the end of the 2014 season, had become the go-to QB in Minnesota.
Bridgewater won the Pepsi Rookie of the Year award with few offensive weapons around him, and finished the season with 259 completions for 2,919 yards and 14 touchdowns. Bridgewater will look to build on that strong first year to make the Vikings a real contender in the NFC North.
Another big name out of Louisville looking to make an impact is DeVante Parker. Parker was the only Cardinal taken in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft. He was taken with the 14th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins. Parker will compete with Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry for the starting WR spot in Miami. With quarterback Ryan Tannehill on the rise, if Parker can emerge at the top of the depth chart, he and Tannehill could combine to make Miami a powerhouse again.
And of course, Elvis Dumervil can’t be forgotten. Dumervil played for the Cardinals from 2002-2005, during coach Bobby Petrino’s first stint in Louisville. After emerging as a leader in his junior year, Dumervil was taken in the fourth round of the 2006 Draft by the Denver Broncos. Dumervil is now in his ninth season in the league. The linebacker now plays for the Baltimore Ravens, and has amassed 293 career tackles, and 90 sacks. It’s not just offensive players making a splash in the NFL, defenses around the league will feel the impact of Cardinals again this season.
Preston Brown had a solid rookie season as a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. Brown had 109 tackles last season.
Safety stud Gerod Holliman left Louisville after his sophomore season, to pursue a career in the NFL. Holliman led the NCAA with 14 interceptions in the 2014 season, won the Jim Thorpe Award, was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, and picked off the number one overall pick in the 2015 Draft, Jameis Winston, twice. Holliman’s physicality has been in question by many, but he will look to show off his ball hawk style with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.
Another Card taken in the 2014 Draft, Calvin Pryor. Pryor was taken with the 18th overall pick in that draft, the first Louisville player taken in that draft. Pryor played free safety for the New York Jets last season and racked up 60 tackles but no interceptions.
This season he has been moved back to his position of preference, strong safety where he will hope to have a bigger impact.
Other defensive rookies in the league from Louisville include B.J. Dubose, defensive end now with the Vikings, Deiontrez Mount, linebacker with the Tennessee Titans, fan favorite Lorenzo Mauldin, linebackers for the New York Jets and Charles Gaines.
Gaines was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2015 draft, and has been given the responsibility of not only learning the cornerback position, but also the nickel back position. This is rare for a rookie and it will be interesting for fans to see how his role unfolds in that organization.
As Louisville athletics and especially Louisville football grows in national prominence, so too does the annual draft stock of its most talented players. As the Cards win more games and move on to bigger conferences, garnering more attention, its best players get to shine on Saturdays on a regular basis.
This success has translated into a talented group of Cardinals now making an impact under the bright lights of the NFL.
