Wednesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

—Mekhi Becton has officially signed his first deal with the New York Jets.

—Jeff Goodman has Louisville at No. 23 in his updated early college hoops rankings for 2020-21.

—Louisville has two of the biggest “freaks” (Athletic link) in college football for 2020.

6. Tutu Atwell, Louisville, wide receiver

Freakiest attribute: Speed, but it’s close

He’s coming off a breakout season where he caught 70 passes for 1,276 yards and 12 TDs. Atwell is 5-9, 190 but he can squat triple his body weight, he can bench press double his body weight and he has blinding speed with a 4.26 40 and a 3.9 short shuttle.

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21. Trevor Reid, Louisville, offensive tackle

Freakiest attribute: Flexibility

Out went one Freak O-lineman in Mekhi Becton and in comes another in the 6-6, 320-pound Reid, who back-flipped his way into the Cards’ hearts this summer.

The junior college transfer has gained 30 pounds since coming to Louisville in the winter. He benches more than 400 pounds but in addition to his agility and coordination, Reid’s speed is another very eye-popping aspect of his toolbox. Cards strength coach Mike Sirignano thinks Reid can run the 40 in the 4.85 range, especially after he’s had more time in the Louisville training program. Expect Reid to vault up this list in 2021.

—In a Senate hearing today, NCAA President Mark Emmert is expected to plea to lawmakers to grant the NCAA antitrust protection from lawsuits he claims “threaten” and “interfere” with the NCAA’s ability to modernize its rules.

—Rivals lists Louisville as one of five teams that could finish with a surprise top 25 recruiting class for 2021.

—DeVante Parker is releasing his own cartoon.

—College football will have a bowl season, even if the games are played in June.

—Chris Mack will hold a teleconference with the media Thursday afternoon at 3.

—Jeff Walz is one of the 100 Most Influential People in Women’s Basketball.

—I’m not sure how much of a legitimate contender Louisville is here, but Adam Kunkel can really play.

—Louisville is in the final eight for four-star small forward Michael James.

—Former Kentucky basketball player Wenyen Gabriel won’t be invited back to Big Blue Madness any time soon.

—Cardinal Authority has the Madden ‘21 ratings for all the Louisville players in the NFL.

—Imagine seeing this graphic 12 months ago.

—Former Cardinals Jamon Brown and Angel McCoughtry have spent their offseasons fighting for equality off the field/court.

—Scott Satterfield is confident that he and his squad will be able to put a “great product” on the field whenever the next college football season begins.

—Jeff Walz and the Cards are back on the court.

—New U of L tight end commit Christian Pedersen comes from the same school that produced Tom Brady, Lynn Swann and Barry Bonds.

—Eric Crawford writes about COVID appearing to be winning the fight against college and high school fall sports.

—U of L football has revealed a new matte black helmet that the team will be sporting this fall (or spring or whenever).

—Scott Satterfield talks ACC/Notre Dame in this interview from last week.

—No, the Elam Ending should not come to college basketball.

—BC Interruption serves up its preview of the 2020 Louisville football team.

—The offseason training video we all needed:

—Jaire Alexander is the fourth highest-rated cornerback in the new Madden game.

—Montrezl Harrell talks with The Players Tribune podcast about being the NBA’s “modern day Denis Rodman.”

—ESPN predicts that Donovan Mitchell will be the 22nd-best NBA player in Orlando.

—Awful news here. RIP to Sticks.

—Rick Bozich ranks the games on the current 2020 Louisville football schedule.

—Louisville is one of the non-Clemson ACC squads that appears to be “on the rise.”

—The NCAA has the full list of college records set by Lamar Jackson.

—And finally, this was setting up to be a banner year for the Louisville-Kentucky rivalry before the whole world went to hell.