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Louisville Football: Top 5 breakout candidates for 2017

By Ryan McNeill

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 05: Jaylen Smith #9 of Louisville evades a tackle by Kamrin Moore #5 of Boston College during the third quarter of a game at Alumni Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 05: Jaylen Smith #9 of Louisville evades a tackle by Kamrin Moore #5 of Boston College during the third quarter of a game at Alumni Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Traveon Samuel is a talented Junior poised for a breakthrough season.

Last season Samuel played in all 13 game for Louisville, but only had 18 receptions and eight rushing attempts. That should change this year as he’ll get more touches running the ball and he will be targetted more by Lamar Jackson will three senior receivers no longer with the team.

Samuel’s 12.8 yards per catch last season is encouraging to see. His freshman season he averaged 12.4 yards on only five rushes and that average dropped to 6.8 yards on 12 attempts last season.

It will be interesting to see what kind of flea flickers or similar plays he’ll get called for him this season. It’s realistic to see him get around 20 rushes this season, even with Jackson getting most of the carries from non-running backs.

The game against Virginia where Samuel had five catches for 69 yards is the kind of week-to-week production Cardinal fans should expect from Samuel this season.

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