Louisville vs. FSU will feature familiar faces, with several key transfers between schools

Jarvis Brownlee gave a slight chuckle after admitting Friday’s contest against Florida State is a game he's had circled.

Naturally, Louisville’s first-year cornerback will want to get a win over his former team. Having transferred less than six months ago, Brownlee has been looking forward to facing off against Florida State in Louisville’s home opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cardinal Stadium.

An 11-game starter for FSU in 2021, the Florida native had 51 tackles, a forced fumble and three passes defended over 12 games. He then left the program in March and committed to Louisville a month later. He's started in both games for the Cardinals so far this season and has totaled 10 tackles with two pass breakups and a crucial interception in the end zone against UCF with less than three minutes left in the game.

The play was reviewed to ensure Brownlee had the ball, but naturally, there was no doubt in his mind that he made the play.

“I had the ball in my hand the whole time,” he said. “I gave up a big slant that drive. I had bad eyes. So, I was just thinking one play at a time, short-term memory. … I knew it was gonna come down to that fourth-and-goal and I just was like, 'I need to take the ball.'”

The Golden Knights had one more drive after the turnover but a pass breakup from Brownlee on third-and-5 at the Louisville 37 brought up fourth down for UCF with under two minutes to play. Another incomplete pass from quarterback John Rhys Plumlee allowed the Cardinals to seal the 20-14 win and give the team an extra boost of confidence for their home opener against Florida State.

For Brownlee’s part, there seems to be no bad blood with his former teammates.

“I have love for a lot of those guys over there on that offensive side of the ball. They're a great team,” Brownlee said. “I know they're going to come and target me a couple of times, so I'm just prepared. Honestly, I'm ready."

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He admits there will be a little bit of trolling. He plans to call out the plays he recognizes and use his knowledge of players’ tendencies to his advantage. At the same time, recognizes the level of competition he and the rest of the Cardinals’ defense will face, particularly in the run game as well as with wide receivers Ontaria Wilson and Johnny Wilson along with quarterback Jordan Travis.

Brownlee said FSU’s quarterback is one of his good friends and has improved as a passer. Prior to the Seminoles’ bye week, Travis threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, completing 62.5% of his passes in a nail-biting 24-23 win over LSU.

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“He's always been great with his feet, but just him placing the ball downfield in a perfect position, putting it where a DBs are not able to touch the ball and only giving his receivers the ability to catch the ball, I honestly feel like that's where he has gotten better,” Brownlee said, “and just reading his keys, just being more patient as a QB, reading down the field more as he scrambled. I feel as the overall player, he's gotten better man just passing the ball, and that's what you want from a QB.”

Much like Brownlee, Travis will be facing his former team having left Louisville after the 2018 season. He came back to Cardinal Stadium in 2020 as a Seminole and totaled 141 yards with a TD and interception on 14-for-32 throwing in FSU’s 48-16 loss.

Travis, who says he and Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham occasionally keep in touch on Snapchat, admitted the thought of returning to Louisville again has crossed his mind. Still, he insisted “it's another game for me, it's another game for this football team.”

“We’re just going to go out there, get a win. Give everything we have, give 100%, keep getting better every single day,” he continued.

Louisville has two more former players on Florida State’s squad in defensive lineman Jarrett Jackson, who came to FSU in 2020, and defensive back Greedy Vance, who transferred after last season.

In the era of the transfer portal, it’s not uncommon for players to face their former teams, especially when transferring within the conference. In the case of Louisville and Florida State, there will be four such players. Cardinals defensive coordinator Bryan Brown’s biggest message to his players is to keep emotions in check and execute the game plan.

Brownlee doesn’t believe he’ll have a problem in that area. Still, he has a little extra motivation this weekend to get a win over his former squad.

“I don't think I'm going to have that much to worry about with emotions,” he said. “I'm the type of guy, I just like to talk through the whistle. I talk my trash after the game and I focus on the dub and being a team player, so I won't let none of the emotions get involved. Just stay focused and lock in.”

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football vs. Florida State has many transfers between teams