Top Five Safeties 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. Wrapping up this series, we take at look at the safety spot.
No. 5: Kerry Rhodes
Years at UofL: 2001-04
UofL Career Stats: 166 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 11 interceptions (two for touchdowns), 19 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one quarterback hurry.
Summary: Originally joining Louisville as a quarterback out of high school, Rhodes was converted to safety once he got on campus. Following a pair of seasons used mostly as a reserve, he blossomed into an impact playmaker during his two seasons as a starter. His best season came as a senior in 2004, when he logged 57 tackles, six interceptions - two of which were taken for pick-sixes - nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles to earn a First-Team All-Conference USA nod. Rhodes is tied for the eighth-most interceptions in program history, is one of just six Cardinals to take back multiple interceptions for touchdowns, and is fifth in blocked kicks with five.
No. 4: Hakeem Smith
Years at UofL: 2010-13
UofL Career Stats: 290 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions, 22 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries.
Summary: Smith was a model of consistency during his time at Louisville, and was possibly the most underrated defender during the Charlie Strong era. He's tied for the second-most starts in program history at 51, and was an All-Big East selection in all four of his years as a Cardinal, being named to the Second-Team and First-Team both twice. His best season came as a sophomore in 2011 (the first of his two First-Team All-Big East seasons), logging 84 tackles (4.0 for loss), an interception, nine pass breakups and three forced fumbles. He ended his time in college on a high note, collecting 45 tackles, two for loss and a sack, a career-high three interceptions and five pass breakups to take home another First-Team All-Big East nod.
No. 3: Gerod Holliman
Years at UofL: 2011-14
UofL Career Stats: 62 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 14 interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble.
Summary: Almost all of Holliman's production in college came during his senior season in 2014, but it was one of the best seasons by an individual defender in Louisville history. That year, he tied the NCAA record for interceptions in a single-season with 14, along with tallying 44 tackles, three for loss, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. He is one of three Cardinals to earn Consensus All-American honors ('06 Dumervil, '16 Jackson), while also winning the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the top defensive back in college football. That season alone puts him fifth in program history in interceptions, and he also tied Anthony Floyd's modern school record for interceptions in a game, catching three against Boston College.
No. 2: Calvin Pryor
Years at UofL: 2011-13
UofL Career Stats: 218 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, seven interceptions, 14 pass breakups, nine forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, four quarterback hurries.
Summary: Very few defenders in the history of the Louisville football program could lay the lumber quite like Pryor. Nicknamed the "Louisville Slugger," he's tied for second in school history in forced fumbles, with his five in 2012 tied for second-most in a single-season at Louisville. That year as a sophomore, he also collected 100 tackles, 2.5 for loss, five pass breakups and two interceptions to be named a First-Team All-Big East selection. His third and final year before declaring early for the NFL Draft was one that saw him earn Second-Team All-American honors, logging 75 tackles, 5.5 for loss, three picks, four breakups, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hurries.
No. 1: Anthony Floyd
Years at UofL: 1999-02
UofL Career Stats: 267 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 18 interceptions, 19 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles.
Summary: Floyd is arguably the best defensive back to ever play at Louisville, let alone be their top safety. He's the program's all-time leader in interceptions, is third in pass defenses (first among safeties with 37) and is one of three DBs to take home First-Team All-American honors. He burst onto the scene as a sophomore in 2000 during his first of three seasons as a starter, tallying 10 interceptions - which is good for second-most in a single season at Louisville - and seven pass breakups along with 57 tackles to be named a First-Team Walter Camp All-American. While he only snagged five interceptions over the next two seasons, that also came with 194 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 12 pass breakups and two forced fumbles during this span. Like in 2000, he was a First-Team All-Conference USA selection in 2001, and was named to the Second-Team in 2002. He also shares the modern school record for interceptions in a game with three against Southern Miss.
Other Louisville Position Top Fives:
- Quarterback
- Running Back
- Wide Receiver
- Tight End
- Offensive Line
- Interior Defensive Line
- Defensive End
- Linebacker
- Cornerback
(Photo of Calvin Pryor: Kim Klement - USA TODAY Sports)
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