LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The names of 10 University of Louisville football players were called in the 2015 NFL Draft.
It started with receiver DeVante Parker with the 14th pick in round one and ended with tight end Gerald Christian, the 256th pick in round seven.
That's the school record. I'm not ready to go to the window to bet that mark will be broken topped.
Over the last nine seasons, an average of 2.1 U of L players per season have been drafted, 17 in all. That average will be topped this weekend in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the 2025 NFL Draft unfolds. At least four Cards project to be selected, which will equal the size of the group that coach Jeff Brohm's program sent to the pros last season.
The celebration will begin with quarterback Tyler Shough, who (as I wrote Tuesday) could surge into the first round.
Defensive end Ashton Gillotte will likely follow him by round three. Cornerback Quincy Riley has a third- or fourth-round grade. The fourth Cardinal selected projects to be receiver Ja'Corey Brooks.
On Tuesday, after I talked to Brohm about Shough's late move up the the mock draft boards, we also discussed other draft eligible Louisville players.
Ashton Gillotte, DE/edge, 6 feet, 3 inches, 264 pounds
Brohm: "Well, I love Ashton. I thought he was a fantastic player. He's strong, he's got quickness and speed, he plays hard, he's tough (and) he's durable. I think anybody that takes him is getting a steal.
"I've told teams that. I said, 'You know, I don't know where you have him, but I'd want him on my team.' He's very valuable. And you know what, he may not be getting some of the attention of the other defensive ends in this draft, but I would draft him high on my team.
"I think if you look at his pass pressures or pressures on the quarterback, that was about the same (as 2023). The sack total (down from 11 in 2023 to 4.5 last season) wasn't quite as much.
"A lot of factors go into that. Some is double teams, people being conscious of where he's at. But he still was able to affect the play and get pressure on the quarterback.
"And he just showed up every week. He was strong in the running game. He's durable. He doesn't miss games.
"Then he came in and ran a really good (4.65 seconds) 40-yard dash at Pro Day, which showed, 'Oh, he can run that fast, too?'
"So I just think I see him sliding up, sneakily sliding up here at the last week or two. I feel confident he'll have a great pro career, and will get drafted in a very good position.
Quincy Riley, CB, 5 feet, 11 inches, 194 pounds
Brohm: "He has really good instincts, really good hand/eye coordination. Can play the ball. He can play corner, he can play nickel(back), he can do all those things. I just think his ball skills and ball awareness will help him, and he'll be successful as well.
"He ran a pretty good 40 time in the high four fours (4.48). He's had productivity. Yeah, he's not 6-2. But I I think he can play at the next level, and he's played a lot of football, and I just think his overall football IQ and hand/eye coordination and ball skills will will definitely elevate him when he gets to that level."
Ja'Corey Brooks, WR, 6 feet, 2 inches, 184 pounds
Brohm: "Ja'Corey did an outstanding for us. I mean, he made a ton of plays. He made a ton of big catches. He showed up every game. He played hard, he played fast. For whatever reason, his 40 time (4.68) wasn't, maybe what he would like, and (the NFL) would like. So that's gonna hurt him, unfortunately. But as far as production on the field, man, he did really good.
"I think they're holding the 40 time against him a little bit. That's a measuring stick they look at a lot, but I know his game speed is fast. So whatever that 40 time was for whatever reason, I don't know. But he plays fast, and his game speed and his hands were outstanding.
"He can adjust to the ball. He's got good length. He caught balls in traffic and got hit hard, and he popped right back up and did it again. And that's not real common to be that tough at receiver, because I thought he was really tough."
Those are the top four. Brohm said that several others will either be taken on day three or earn free agent opportunities.
The players on that list are defensive lineman Thor Griffith; offensive lineman Michael Gonzalez; defensive end Ramon Puryear; cornerback Corey Thornton; safety M.J. Griffin; safety Tahveon Nicholson; offensive lineman Jonathan Mendoza and tight end Mark Redman.
"I'm proud of all these guys," Brohm said. "They've all worked really hard.
"They all have that ultimate goal of playing at the next level. I hope we get as many drafted as possible and then have other guys and have numerous other guys sign as free agents. It's an exciting time."
Louisville Football Coverage:
BOZICH | 10 questions with Jeff Brohm on Tyler Shough's major buzz before NFL Draft
BOZICH | Can 'Brohm Effect' elevate Miller Moss into next great U of L QB?
BOZICH | Cancel spring game? Brohm explains why Cards' game Friday was 'invaluable'
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