All-American Louisville running back Isaac Brown sitting out first practice raises alarm bells

Isaac Brown has been dominant for Louisville football over the past two years. Brown initially planned to enter the transfer portal, but decided against it and instead decided to stick with the Cardinals.

Now, the All-American running back, who missed time last year due to an injury, may also be dealing with an injury as fall camp opens, per Pete Nakos of On3.

Isaac Brown sat out the first practice of fall camp on Thursday, did not have a helmet, and was working on the sideline with trainers throughout the morning.

As a freshman in 2024, he ran for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also hauling in 30 catches for 152 yards and a score. He played in just nine games for Louisville in 2025. He ran for 884 yards and seven touchdowns. In his last four games, Brown was dominant. He ran for over 100 yards in each of his last four games and scored four touchdowns. That includes running for 113 yards on 15 carries in the victory over Miami in October.

He led the country with runs over 50 yards or more in 2026. Brown is one of 81 players who were named to the Maxwell Award watchlist in the preseason. The award is presented annually to the college football player judged as the best all-around player in the United States.

Fernando Mendoza of Indiana won the award in 2025. Louisville has had a winner of the award before, as Lamar Jackson won the Maxwell in 2016.

Louisville has playoff hopes in 2026, but open their season with a difficult test. They open the year against Ole Miss on September 6 at the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff in Nashville, Tennessee.

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