By Elijah Klepczyk
Emmerich Newspapers
A top‑25 showdown awaits No. 9 Ole Miss as it opens the season against No. 22 Louisville in Nashville for the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff on Sunday
The Cardinals will once again be led by head coach Jeff Brohm, who enters his fourth season at Louisville. The program finished 9‑4 last year (4‑4 in the ACC) and closed the season with a 27‑22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl.
“They have got a lot of weapons,” Rebs head coach Pete Golding said of the Louisville offense. The Cardinals will be led by Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz, who was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school, but saw limited playing time during his stint with the Buckeyes.
Louisville ranked fourth in the ACC last season in total offense, averaging 384.5 yards per game – much of it fueled by standout tailback Isaac Brown, who averaged 8.8 yards per carry. “This kid is special,” Golding said of the junior, adding that “he looks explosive on tape.” Golding didn’t hold back, saying Brown could be the best running back Ole Miss faces all season.
Sometimes running backs are only as good as their offensive line, and the interior O-line for Louisville is highly touted this year as well. Along with returning production from left guard Lance Robinson, the Cardinals also brought in right guard Eryx Daugherty from Boston College who was rated as the number 8 offensive lineman in the transfer portal this cycle by 247Sports.
Defensively, Louisville is also formidable according to Golding who said, “they play the game really violent.”
Golding pointed to the edges as being one of the strongest units on the field for the Cardinals, "I think they are really athletic and long,” he said. Clev Lubin will look to be the star of that room, who secured 8.5 sacks last season and 13.5 tackles for loss. Opposite of him will be AJ Green
Who tallied 6 sacks of his own last season and finished the year with 31 tackles. Golding said that unit can get after the quarterback and the Rebels offensive line will have to play sound football all night.
The Cardinals also fielded the best pass defense in the ACC last season – going 8-0 when keeping opponents under 200 pass yards. Golding pointed to starting nickel back Antonio Watts as one of their better pass defenders he spotted during game prep.
Golding said there has been a heavy emphasis on taking care of the ball in Ole Miss’ game prep. He also mentioned that they are going to try and get their playmakers the ball in space, and to try and spread out this highly touted Louisville defense.
The Rebels will return home on Sept. 12 to host the University of Charlotte before their much anticipated SEC season opener where they welcome ex-head coach Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers to Vaught-Hemingway on Sept. 19.
