LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reggie Bonnafon didn’t complain when an eventual Heisman Trophy winner supplanted him at quarterback, and he hasn’t looked back on what might have been.

He has focused on succeeding wherever Louisville coaches placed him and has stayed optimistic while seesawing between being running back and wide receiver the past two seasons.

“Any opportunity I’m blessed to have and the coaches trust me with, I don’t take it lightly,” said Bonnafon, who caught 13 passes for 159 yards and five touchdown passes from Jackson during his amazing run to the Heisman last fall.

He added, “I try to give the best that I have.”

The process continues for the versatile Cardinals senior, whom Coach Bobby Petrino said he regrets not using more often in 2016. Getting touches won’t be an issue this fall as Bonnafon transitions to full-time duty in the backfield.

Seeing an obvious need last spring when injuries thinned the Cardinals’ backfield, the Louisville native took some snaps in a scrimmage and discovered his best skill might be carrying the ball. Petrino agreed and has placed him atop the depth chart, looking forward to utilizing Bonnafon more at a position that seems to suit him well.

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“He played wide receiver most of his life growing up, so that was an easy thing for him to transition to playing another position,” Petrino said of Bonnafon on media day. “But he looks a lot more natural running the ball. He’s seeing it, he’s making the cuts. I’m anxious to see how he does.”

Despite his current status as the featured back, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound Bonnafon is being pressed by fellow seniors Jeremy Smith and Malik Williams. They also face a big task of replacing the durable Brandon Radcliff in an offense that averaged nearly 533 yards per game in 2016 behind Jackson’s arm and feet.

With opponents keying on Jackson again this season, the Cardinals need someone to take some of the load off him and create balance. Already considered one of Louisville’s fastest players, coaches believe Bonnafon is also strong enough to bull through the middle.

AUBURN: John Franklin III, the quarterback turned receiver, is transferring.

Tigers Coach Gus Malzahn said that Franklin indicated he is looking “for the chance to play more and get closer to home.” Franklin, who is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has already graduated and could play immediately as a graduate transfer. He posted on Instagram that he’ll play his final season at Florida Atlantic.

TENNESSEE: Freshman wide receiver Jacquez Jones will miss the entire season because of a knee injury.

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DUKE: The program signed top high school prospect Marvin Bagley III and said he will enroll for the fall 2017 semester.

Bagley committed Monday in a nationally televised ceremony.

The 6-foot-11 Bagley was widely considered the top recruit of the 2018 recruiting class. He petitioned the NCAA last month to reclassify and become college eligible for the upcoming season.


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