LOUISVILLE, Ky. - We're now just past the halfway point of the Louisville football program's 2024 season. While we already have an inclination as to who will be taking a redshirt this season, there are a few players to monitor.
As a reminder, a player can play up to four games in a season while still maintaining their redshirt - which allows them an additional year of eligibility beyond the normal allotment of four. Play more than that, and you've burned your opportunity to take a redshirt that season.
There are some complicating factors, such as injury waivers or older players who were granted an additional year thanks to the COVID pandemic in 2020. But outside of that, D1 players - according to the NCAA's official page - have five-calendar years to play four non-redshirt seasons of competition.
So who can still take a redshirt, and who has burned their opportunity? Below is our full tracker, separated by distinct categories:
*games played in parenthesis. Bold w/no parenthesis indicates redshirt opportunity burned.
Isaac Brown, Maurice Davis and Duke Watson had already burned their opportunity to take a redshirt prior to the Miami game.
The only other true freshman to see any sort of playing time outside of the Austin Peay game was Jathan Hatch, who got involved on special team vs. Virginia. Although he did not play vs. Miami.
*games played in parenthesis. Bold w/no parenthesis indicates redshirt opportunity burned.
Most of the players in this category are heavy contributors to the team, and had long burned their opportunity to take a redshirt prior to the Miami game.
Something to note is that, for the second straight game, Antonio Meeks did not play while sitting at the redshirt threshold. He has seen minimal run this season (just 38 total snaps over four games played), so unless injuries at wide receiver or on special teams pop up, we have to consider the possibility of a redshirt.
Jeff Brohm noted during his press conference ahead of the Miami game they were going to try to get Maurice Turner back on the practice field that week, but did not provide an update this week. With just five games left in the regular season and no exact return date nailed down yet, a redshirt year isn't out of the question.
As with Selah Brown, he has yet to make an appearance due to an undisclosed injury, so it seems like he is a redshirt candidate.
*games played in parenthesis. Bold w/no parenthesis indicates redshirt opportunity burned.
Tamarion McDonald, Dezmond Tell and Corey Thornton have played four full prior seasons, are on their COVID year, and had already crossed the redshirt threshold before the Miami game.
With Lacy, he has played that last four games after missing their first three games with a broken collarbone. Unless the injury is re-aggravated or another injury comes up, he will likely burn in his last opportunity for a redshirt this weekend.
With Jadon Thompson, he is out for the remainder of the season after suffered a knee injury against Georgia Tech. However, he still has his normal redshirt left as he played three full seasons at Cincinnati and one full season at Louisville last year. He can use that this season for a potential return in 2025.
Lance Robinson used his extra COVID year in 2020 when he played just three games at MTSU as a true freshman. he then had a full 2021 season at MTSU followed by a full 2022 season at Houston. While he only played one game last season in his first year with Louisville, it counts as a full season due to then-NCAA eligibility rules, which were amended during bowl season to allow him to play the Holiday Bowl. With Robinson out for the season due to an injury suffered in fall camp, his normal redshirt will be used this season so he can return in 2025.
Mason Reiger didn't play a game in 2020, but used his COVID year for that season, and has played three "full" seasons since. He was in line to play his final year this season, but with him still being sidelined after complications from offseason knee surgery, he will likely use his normal redshirt this year and return for 2025 - as long as he doesn't play more than four games.