15-11: Louisville football countdown, top-20 players of 2025
Editor’s note: With less than two weeks until week one, Cardinal Sports will count down the top 20 most impactful players of the 2025 Louisville football season.
Rankings for Louisville football’s top-20 players will be based on previous achievements/stats, position importance, team needs, and season projections.
Previous top-20 rankings: 20-16
Now, here are players ranked 15-11.
15.) Antonio Watts, LB
6-2, 225 lbs, RS-Jr.
Antonio Watts has been one of the most intriguing players in Louisville’s offseason. His mix of athleticism, strength, and speed makes him a perfect fit for the Cards’ defense. Watts had the game-winning defelction in the Sun Bowl win over Washington and started all 13 games last season. The Columbus, Georgia, native finished 2024 with a career-high 51 tackles. As a linebacker/safety hybrid, he was solid in the STAR role last season and his due for a big year. In camp and scrimmages this fall, Watts has been a difference maker.
14.) Maklyan Pounders, OT
6-5, 310, RS-Sr.
Pounders transfers in from Mississippi State and is the presumed starting left tackle heading into week one, so it’s hard to keep him off this list. The Cards’ front five was stellar last season and prevailed through injuries. Pounders will be a vital player on Louisville’s o-line this fall and will need to be consistent. With the Bulldogs, he started seven games (six at left tackle) and allowed just four sacks and 19 pressures in 2024. He has started from the get-go and should remain as such going forward.
13.) D’Angelo Hutchinson, S
6-3, 200 lbs, Sr.
Hutchinson played in all 13 games last year and collected 52 tackles and two tackles for loss. But, despite how much Louisville’s secondary was talked about as the weak link of the defense, the safety was one of the bright spots. He filled in for injury and was efficient when doing so, and it appears that Hutchinson is ready to start and be a “problem” on the back end.
12.) Kicker, TBD
So, the place kicker must go on this list. It’s probably one of the most underrated positions in college football, and for the first time in the Jeff Brohm era, Louisville has a kicking battle on its hands. Right now, it’s Cooper Ranvier (RS-Fr) and Nick Keller (Jr.) for the job, and Ranvier has to have the edge at this point. Both have great range and minimal experience, so we’ll just wait and see who becomes more consistent. We might end up seeing both early on this year.
11.) TJ Quinn, LB
6-1, 235 lbs, RS-Sr.
If you’re a Cards fan and you still don’t know who TJ Quinn is, it’s time to read a roster. Quinn has led Louisville in tackles for two straight seasons now and is coming off a 2024 campaign where he brought down 82 ball carriers and started all 13 games. While the captain may not be a freak athlete, his consistency and cerebral play are necessary for Louisville’s defense. He may not make jaw-dropping plays, but as the Mike, Quinn is a steady force on the defensive side of the football. And yes, he should probably be higher on this list.
