Louisville Cardinals

Louisville Football: 2016 Season Awards For The Cardinals

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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We take a look at our 2016 regular season awards for the Louisville football team and which players deserve to be on the list.

It was an exciting season for the Louisville football team and the good news is that it isn’t over yet. Lamar Jackson is up for the Heisman Trophy and the rest of the team will be facing off against the LSU Tigers in the Citrus Bowl.

There have been many players worthy of winning one of our seasonal awards, but only a few were good enough to actually be chosen.

Without anymore delay, here are our awards for the 2016 regular season:

Oct 22, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Jaylen Smith (9) avoids the tackle of North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive back Dravious Wright (8) during the first quarter at Papa John

Best Breakout Player On Offense | Jaylen Smith

Jaylen Smith was one of the most pleasant surprises on the Louisville football team this season. Not only did he have a great year, but has proven that he has what it takes to be the Cards’ number one receiver for the future.

His highlight of the season came on the road against Virginia. The Cardinals were down throughout the game, but a Lamar Jackson touchdown pass to Smith gave Louisville the lead with under one minute remaining.

It has been clutch plays like that one which gives us all of the confidence in the world in his abilities going forward.

He finished the regular season with 599 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals cornerback Jaire Alexander (10) avoids the tackles of Florida State Seminoles place kicker Logan Tyler (21) and linebacker Ro

Best Breakout Player On Defense | Jaire Alexander

Oh man, do we love ourselves some Jaire Alexander. In his sophomore season, Alexander was the biggest player on the defense and special teams. Whether it was returning punts or forcing turnovers, he had all of us on our feet with excitement.

It’s a great feeling to know that Alexander will be returning on next year’s Louisville football team. He has been the clear number one cornerback and will assume the punt return duties again in 2017.

Alexander has proven himself to be a game-changer and one of the best defensive backs in the entire country.

Alexander finished the regular season with five interceptions, eight passes broken up, and 36 total tackles.

Sep 9, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver James Quick (17) runs with the ball after a catch in front of Syracuse Orange linebacker Zaire Franklin (4) and defensive back Antwan Cordy (8) during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Louisville defeated Syracuse 62-28. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Most Disappointing Player On Offense | James Quick

What started as a great senior season for James Quick, took a major turn for the worse after he cost Louisville the football game down in Clemson. Ever since that game, his problems catching the football have risen and has almost disappeared from the offense at times.

He was on pace to have one of the best receiving seasons of any Louisville Cardinal, but that obviously didn’t happen.

To make things even worse, James Quick dropped a touchdown pass in the closing seconds before halftime against Kentucky.

One does not simply drop a touchdown against Kentucky and everything be well and okay. Let’s hope he can take his game to another level against LSU.

Nov 12, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals safety Chucky Williams (22) congratulates linebacker Devonte Fields (92) for a sack against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Papa John

Most Disappointing Player On Defense | Devonte Fields

Yes, Devonte Fields was picked as our most disappointing player on defense. He didn’t have a bad season, but he didn’t live up to the ACC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor that most of the media had put on his shoulders.

This was an important year for Fields to make a move in the NFL Draft, but his lack of production will hurt him going into April.

Fields finished third on the team with 8 tackles for loss, second on the team in sacks with five, and eight on the team in total tackles with 42.

He was supposed to be one of the best defensive players in the country, when in reality he wasn’t even the best defensive player on his team this season.

Nov 12, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals linebacker James Hearns (99) sacks Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback John Wolford (10) during the second half at Papa John

Best Defensive Player | Defensive End | James Hearns

James Hearns was an absolute beast for Todd Grantham this season. Louisville lost one of their best outside linebackers in last season’s Music City Bowl in Trevon Young, therefore they were desperate for someone to step up.

Little did we know that James Hearns would have the best season of any linebacker on the Cards’ roster.

He finished 2016 as the team leader in sacks with 8 and second on the team in tackles for loss with 10.

Let’s hope that Hearns decides to come back to the University of Louisville next season to help continue their pursuit of a National Championship.

Oct 22, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals tight end Cole Hikutini (18) runs the ball against North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive back Dravious Wright (8) during the second quarter at Papa John

Best Offensive Player | Cole Hikutini

This is pretty much the “best offensive player outside of Lamar Jackson” award.

Obviously, there isn’t anyone that would come close in this situation, but Hikutini is still our guy. He was super valuable for the Cards in 2016, which included many, many touchdown catches in the end-zone.

I think it’s fair to say that Cole Hikutini is a large reason why Jackson will probably win the Heisman Trophy. His ability to block and go get the football has been huge for a Louisville offense that has been the best in America all season long.

The senior tight-end will be sorely missed next season, as the Cards will have to replace his eight receiving touchdowns.

Oct 29, 2016; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Team MVP: Lamar Jackson

Was there really any doubt in your mind that this award would go to anyone other than Lamar Jackson?

He was Louisville’s best player, the ACC’s best player, and the Nation’s best player. With that being said, this kid is 100 percent our choice for team MVP.

Lamar Jackson has been able to achieve so many unbelievable things in his sophomore season under Bobby Petrino.

He has rushed for 1,538 yards, while also running for 21 touchdowns. If that wasn’t impressive enough for you, Jackson also threw for 30 touchdowns as well.

Louisville football fans should be thanking their lucky stars that he has at least one more season with the Cardinals.