When the University of Louisville football Cardinals took apart the Florida Gators 33-23 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, the country sat up and took notice. College fans who had been conditioned to ignore the Big East by ESPN and the other “me-too” sports outlets were flabbergasted by the utter destruction wrought by the Cards.
Those same fans who cheered Johnny Manziel’s Heisman trophy win began to rethink those accolades after watching Teddy Bridgewater work his magic. More importantly, recruits saw something they liked as the television rating rose from last year’s game to the tune of 10.1 million viewers.
One of those viewers decided that he would bring his talents to the Ville. Defensive tackle De’Asian Richardson was impressed. Richardson’s escapade to find the right school led him to commit to Florida State at first. In August, he thought West Virginia would be the place to go only to watch that program falter. Then after seeing the Sugar Bowl, Richardson knew the right place would be Louisville.
He’s considered to be in the top 50 players from the state of Florida and one of the top 15 strong-side defensive ends. At 6’3” and 285 pounds, it’s understandable that plenty of FBS schools wanted him, including Alabama, Oklahoma and those aforementioned Florida Gators.
Also deciding on Louisville is Trinity High’s James Quick, the 2012 Mr. Football designee in Kentucky. That would be considered a big get because the other school in contention for Quick’s services was Ohio State. He made his decision while at the All-America Bowl in San Antonio and took the extra stop of making his commitment on the broadcast. He said:
"I want to thank God, my family and my coaches, but I’m going to the University of Louisville. Card Nation."
He made it official by donning UofL hat.
The hometown hero is 6’1” and 180 pounds with speed to burn. Sources have said that Quick was coach Charlie Strong’s main targets of the 2012 recruiting class.
Then Quick’s teammate, quarterback Reggie Bonnafon decided that he should get on the train, too, and join the Cards. Bonnafon will come in with the 2014 class and possibly be ready to step in for Teddy Bridgewater after his senior season.
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