Defensive Back
Starting safeties: Chucky Williams, Zykiesis Cannon
Backups: Lyn Strange, Dee Smith
The safety position for the Louisville Cardinals looks to be in good hands with Chucky Williams on the field. Williams flew all over the field to lead the Cardinals defense with 107 tackles, 10.0 sacks, four fumble recoveries, three pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He’ll look to be one of the top safeties in the ACC in 2017.
Zykiesis Cannon is at the other safety spot. He racked up 67 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and an interception last season. With Cannon and Williams, two seniors, on the field, teams could find it difficult to pass against this secondary.
Lyn Strange is a true freshman who could see some time on special teams and in a reserve safety role. He also played wide receiver in high school. Dee Smith is a junior out of Florence, Alabama. He had 42 tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in 2016.
Starting cornerbacks: Jaire Alexander, Cornelius Sturghill
Backups: Trumaine Washington, Ronald Walker
The cornerback position is another big strength on the Louisville Cardinals’ defense. Led by junior Jaire Alexander, the Cardinals defensive back unit is prime for a big season. Alexander only had 39 tackles in 2016 but led the team in interceptions with five. He also played a big role on the punt return team with 19 returns, 195 punt return yards and a touchdown.
Cornelius Sturghill played in 2015 but redshirted in 2016 after being shot in the foot in a drive-by shooting in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. He looks to be fully recovered entering this season.
Trumaine Washington and Ronald Walker should see some time in the rotation as well. Washington had 30 tackles, six pass break ups, two interceptions and a tackle for loss last year. Walker had 23 tackles, an interception, an interception return for a touchdown and a pass breakup in 2016.