By Dalton Ray–
Nov. 28, 2009 should be considered a holiday to Louisville fans. That day marked Steve Kragthorpe’s final day as U of L’s head football coach. The hire is the lone blemish in Athletic Director Tom Jurich’s tenure, and he made up for it. Who would the next head-ball-coach to lead the Cardinals out of the Forbidden Era?
Eleven days later, Jurich chose Charlie Strong, the man who revolutionized Louisville football. After four years, 37 wins, a BCS victory and back-to-back double-digit winning seasons, Strong dropped Louie the Cardinal for Bevo the Longhorn. While Strong has been in Austin, Texas since 2014, his handprints remain all over the program.
Since 2011, 19 Cardinals have been taken in the NFL Draft. Of the 19 draftees, Strong and his staff recruited 15 of those players – players recruited, developed and drafted by an NFL team in a three year span, which included five first-round draft picks. U of L had five first-round draft picks from 1987-2009 before Strong stepped on the scene.
Coming into year three Bobby Petrino’s second tenure and his staff is still reaping the benefits of Strong’s leftovers.
Keith Kelsey, 194 tackles over the past two seasons, is a Strong recruit. The anchor of 2016’s defense, DeAngelo Brown, is a Strong recruit. Brandon Radcliff, Louisville’s 10th all-time leader in rushing touchdwns, is a Strong recruit. Chucky Williams, Keith Towbridge, LJ Scott and Stacy Thomas are also Strong recruits.
Want more recruits who will contribute this year brought in by Strong? James Quick, Reggie Bonnafon, James Hearns, Kyle Shortridge, Lukayus McNeil.
That’s nine starters on the 2016 roster recruited by Strong and his staff. If it wasn’t for an injury, Trevon Young (8.5 sacks in 2015) would be another starter. Not to mention Kyle Bolin is another Strong recruit.
Here we are three years removed of Strong and he still has former recruits that are be major contributors for U of L this season.
File Photo / The Louisville Cardinal
