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Notre Dame Football: Top 5 running backs Irish will face in 2020

By Jack Leniart

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers runs the ball against Derion Kendrick #1 of the Clemson Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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3. Javian Hawkins (Louisville)

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 26: Javian Hawkins #10 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers on October 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 26: Javian Hawkins #10 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers on October 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Next up on what has turned out to be an ACC-heavy list of running backs is Louisville’s Javian Hawkins. As a freshman last season, Hawkins burst onto the scene and proved to be a real asset for the Cardinals’ offense.

Following the conclusion of a disappointing 2018 season, Louisville went out and hired head coach Scott Satterfield from Appalachian State. In his first season, Satterfield led the Cardinals to an 8-5 season and reignited some hope in the fan base.

Louisville’s offense under Satterfield likes to play fast. They run a fair amount of read option and try to get the ball in the hands of their play-makers. One of those play-makers is running back Javian Hawkins.

Hawkins averaged 5.8 yards per carry in 2019 and finished the year with 1,525 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He will be the team’s leading back again in 2020 and should have no issue topping his totals from last season.

Hawkins and starting quarterback Micale Cunningham combine to make one of the more dangerous backfield tandems in the ACC. As is the case in the read option offense, the threat of Cunningham makes Hawkins’ job easier and vice versa.

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