Top Five Interior Defensive Linemen in Louisville Football History
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville football program has seen plenty of talented players don the Cardinals uniform over the years, ranging from multi-time All-Conference selections to All-Americans and a Heisman Trophy winner.
This offseason, Louisville Report is taking on the task of ranking the top five players in the history of the program at each position on the field. Next in this series, we take at look at the interior of the defensive line.
No. 5: Donovan Arp
Years at UofL: 1999-00
UofL Career Stats: 95 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one interception
Summary: Arp may have spent only two seasons at Louisville after coming over from the JUCO ranks, but it was an incredibly dominant two-year stretch. He logged 16 tackles for loss both as a junior and senior, finishing with the second-most TFL's by a defensive tackle in school history (Jeff Henry - 35). His senior year was one of the best in school history by a DT, also logging 50 total tackles, six sacks and 16 quarterback hurries, the latter of which is third in a single season at Louisville and No. 1 for an interior lineman. He took home Second-Team All-Conference USA honors as a result.
No. 4: Montavious Stanley
Years at UofL: 2002-05
UofL Career Stats: 128 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, eight fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups.
Summary: A three-year starter on the defensive line, Stanley was one of Louisville's most consistant and productive defenders in the 2010's. He began as an edge rusher before moving to the interior for his final two seasons, collecting 13 tackles for loss and three sacks as a sophomore in his final season as an edge. He had a bit of a dip in production as a junior, but bounced back for a dominant senior season in 2005. That year, he logged 48 tackles, 10 for loss, 5.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble, earning Second-Team All-Big East honors.
No. 3: Amobi Okoye
Years at UofL: 2003-06
UofL Career Stats: 121 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles
Summary: Okoye joined the Cardinals as the youngest player in all of NCAA football, but didn't waste any time becoming a regular contributor and rotational piece on the line. He was elevated to starter for his final two seasons, and exploded during his senior campaign in 2006. That year, he logged 55 tackles, 15 for loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. Not only did he help Louisville go 12-1 that season, he earned First-Team All-Big East and Second-Team AP All-American honors.
No. 2: Ken Kortas
Years at UofL: 1960-63
UofL Career Stats: 133 tackles and five fumble recoveries from 1962-63 (limited stats available)
Summary: Kortas is possibly one of the most under-appreciated and under-recognized athletes to ever come through the program. Playing in a bygone era of Cardinals football, he was the first member of the program to earn major college All-American honors. This came in 1963 when he was tabbed as a First-Team FWAA All-American, when he logged 81 tackles and three fumble recoveries. To this day, he is the highest NFL Draft selection in program history, going No. 9 overall to the St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals in 1964.
No. 1: Ted Washington
Years at UofL: 1987-90
UofL Career Stats: 294 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, five blocked field goals.
Summary: Washington is not only one of the biggest players to ever suit up for the Cardinals at 375 pounds, he was arguably the most disruptive defensive tackle in program history. He's tied for 11th in program history in sacks, which also leads all interior defensive linemen, and was a two-time All-American at Louisville. He was an honorable mention by The Sporting News in 1988 as a junior when he logged 66 tackles and seven tackles for loss (all of which were sacks), then was named a First-Team Gannett All-American in 1989 as a senior after tallying 76 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks and three blocked field goals. Washington was also a proficient special teams player, logging the most blocked field goals in school history, and tied for second-most blocked kicks overall.
Other Louisville Position Top Fives:
(Photo of Amobi Okoye: Andy Lyons - Getty Images)
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