10-6: 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, 15-11 

Now, here are the players ranked No. 10 through No. 6. 

10.) Rene Konga, DL 

6-4, 300 lbs, R-Sr. 

Konga had a really nice year on the interior defensive line last season and appears to be ready to walk into the full-time starting role. He played in 11 games, starting six of them, and totaled 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2024. The former Rutgers transfer finished the season strong and has a nice mix of speed and strength as a run stopper. ESPN listed Konga as a potential breakout candidate this season. 

9.) Rodney Johnson Jr, CB

6-2, 200 lbs, R-Sr. 

As Louisville’s newest cornerback No. 1, Johnson will be tasked with a major role this upcoming season, especially for a secondary that will be under the microscope. He’s probably the best defensive back on the roster and has a physical presence in the run game while also being lockdown at Southern University last season. He made 35 tackles, 5.0 of them for loss, and one interception last season. His leadership and maturity have been talked about this offseason, but he’ll need to back it up on the field against some of the best wideouts in the nation. 

8.) Pete Nygra, C

6-4, 300 lbs, R-Sr. 

Nygra is Louisville’s best offensive lineman, and it helps that he’s returning from last year. He should be considered as an All-ACC candidate, but has seemed to fall under the radar in the preseason. With all of the questions surrounding the Cardinals’ offensive line this fall, it’s nice to have a center who’s been around the block and has consistently performed at this level. The former Northern Illinois transfer is entering his fifth season of college football, and the center is the highest-ranked offensive lineman on this list. The snapper is easily the most important of the group. 

7.) Clev Lubin, DE

6-3, 250 lbs, RS-Jr. 

Pro Football Focus has Lubin as the highest-rated edge rusher in the ACC this preseason, and for good reason. At Coastal Carolina last season, he finished 15th nationally in sacks with 9.5 and recorded 12.5 tackles for loss in 10 games. Louisville’s highest-rated defensive addition this offseason will be the Cards’ primary pass rusher on the edge, and while replacing Ashton Gillotte won’t be easy, Lubin will be a difference-maker this fall. The Suffern, New York, native has performed everywhere he’s been and is a preseason All-ACC candidate. 

6.) Duke Watson, RB 

6-0, 180 lbs, Soph. 

The lean, but speedy sophomore running back has been turning heads this preseason — just as he did a season ago. Playing second-fiddle to Isaac Brown in the backfield, Watson came alive towards the end of the season, rushing for 373 yards and five touchdowns in the final five games of 2024. And because of Brown’s rise to stardom, many seem to forget that Watson’s not too far behind. He’s an elusive runner with NFL upside, and the staff is extremely high on the former four-star entering the season. However, he’s one of the several playmakers Louisville will have on the offensive side of the ball, some of whom have yet to be named on this list.