Reflecting on the 2023 season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had relatively few mistakes. Their most frustrating game was a 33-20 loss to the Louisville Cardinals, a match that felt far less competitive than the final score indicated. The Irish delivered a disappointing performance that day.
This Saturday, Notre Dame has a chance for redemption as Louisville visits South Bend. While head coach Jeff Brohm is recognized as one of college football’s top offensive minds, the defense may pose the biggest challenge. Here are some key offensive players from Louisville to watch.
EDGE Ashton Gillotte.
Gillotte has emerged as one of the most productive defensive linemen in college football over the past few years, recording 33 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, and four forced fumbles in his career. Standing just under 6-3 and weighing over 270 pounds, he’s a powerful EDGE rusher who excels at the point of attack. Although he doesn’t fit the mold of a traditional wide-alignment pass rusher, his combination of strength, effort, and quickness makes him a dominant force across the defensive line.
CB Quincy Riley
Riley was one of the standout cornerbacks last fall, having begun his career at Middle Tennessee State. At just under 5-11 and 187 pounds, he is a smaller but highly aggressive defender with impressive movement skills. Known for his intelligence on the field, he has intercepted seven passes and broken up another 20 during his time at Louisville. While Notre Dame has a size advantage, they’ll need to match Riley’s competitive spirit.
Outstanding job with body positioning from Louisville CB Quincy Riley (#3)… cuts off wide receiver’s path to the football, then showcases tremendous ball tracking for the interception. Great rep. pic.twitter.com/q2ZXpSS9mQ
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) September 24, 2024
Interior Defensive Line
The strength of the Louisville team likely lies in its interior defensive line. While he may not be a household name yet, that’s bound to change as more people notice Rene Konga. A former Rutgers transfer, this 6-4, 290-pound interior rusher is an explosive athlete who was nearly unstoppable against Georgia Tech. Notre Dame will certainly face a challenge with No. 90 on the field.
Had never heard of Louisville DT Rene Konga (#90) until recently… but his game against Georgia Tech is one of the more dominant performances I’ve seen this season. Former Rutgers transfer… listed at 6-4 and 290 pounds.
Looks like an early round selection if he keeps this up. pic.twitter.com/zg1jqFnw9J
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) September 24, 2024
In addition to Konga, Louisville features strong players like Dezmond Tell and former Harvard transfer Thor Griffith. Although both are shorter defensive linemen, they excel at using leverage effectively. The Irish will need to maintain good pad level and play physically in the run game, as this defensive line will be prepared for the challenge.
Hilarious rep from Louisville DT Dezmond Tell (#99)… a ball of fury at 6-1 (generous) and 295 pounds. Doesn’t make the tackle but shows good first step to avoid the puller. pic.twitter.com/qNDLJnlXV0
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) September 24, 2024
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