{"id":6491,"date":"2023-09-14T12:29:22","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T16:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=6491"},"modified":"2023-09-14T13:51:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T17:51:24","slug":"rb-with-ties-to-sa-eyes-homecoming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/14\/rb-with-ties-to-sa-eyes-homecoming\/","title":{"rendered":"RB with ties to SA eyes homecoming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By BOB SHRALUKA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday’s football game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will provide a homecoming for Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo, who attended Colts games there as a youngster and also was on hand as a freshman when his Wisconsin team played Ohio State in the stadium in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time it will be Guerendo and the 2-0 Cardinals facing IU in a noon game (Fox Sports). It will also be a homecoming for Cardinals Coach Jeff Brohm, who left the head job at Purdue after last season to move back to his alma mater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guerendo has direct ties to Adams County as his mother, Jennifer Smitley Guerendo (photo), is a 1989 graduate of South Adams High School who now manages a PNC Bank branch in Indianapolis. Her mother, Jana Shaffer, and Bob Shaffer live near Geneva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaac attended Avon High School, where he was a football star \u2013 named Mr. Football his senior year \u2013 and a state track champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s another surreal moment being able to go home and play there,\u201d Guerendo told the Louisville Courier Journal \u201cThere are just so many people around that support me that will be able to go to that game, that will be able to watch that game. Just being in the home state feels good; I’m so excited.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guerendo went to Wisconsin University on a full ride, and although he showed flashes of the excellence seen at Avon, his four years as a Badger were constantly stunted by injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For his final season, Isaac entered the transfer portal and was quickly contacted by Brohm, who was still at Purdue. He had caught Brohm’s eye on a long touchdown run against the Boilermakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paid for by VoteHitchcock.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Both wound up at Louisville and the move has paid off handsomely for both of them. The Cardinals are off to a 2-0 start, and against Murray State last week Guerendo racked up 90 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries (5.3 average), and also caught 5 passes for 60 yards (12.0 average).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe can do it all,” said U of L running back coach Chris Barclay. “He’s got speed. If he gets a seam, he can run. I mean he did have a 90-yard run against Maryland last year. At 6-1 and 225 pounds, that’s unique. He had a big play today. I told him that’s like getting an 18-wheeler on the highway, putting pedal to the metal man, let’s go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When he puts his pedal to the metal, that’s a big man. That’s a lot of velocity. You gotta make your mind up, be a grown man to tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guerendo has made his presence felt in other ways with the Cardinals. Running backs coach Chris Barclay called him \u201cprobably one of the sharpest guys in the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barclay told the Louisville Courier Journal that another back, Jawhar Jordan, the team’s leading rusher, said Isaac helped him learn the playbook. \u201cThey came in together as far as the offense is concerned. I think that kind of speaks to his (Isaac) ability to retain information, process. There’s a big trust factor there with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barclay also noted that Guerendo has shown the most growth since joining the team, and takes new steps every week. \u201cHe’s a heavier back, at 225 pounds, but he picks up speed and is effective in pass protection as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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