DIAA Player of the Week: AJ Ayres, Louisville

09.28.2022

Louisville has started very strong with victories over Dayton, Cincinnati, and Pitt.

Now, faced with a bye before a bit of a buzz-saw as Western Michigan, IUPUI, and Bowling Green face them in quick succession.

The Cardinals will be leaning on the talent of AJ Ayres, who is our D1AA Player of the Week.

Ayres came out of the Downingtown program in Pennsylvania and his experience there has helped him develop a deep understanding of the game.

He played hooker and flanker in high school and showed up at Louisville expecting to be a forward. Now he's playing outside center.

Against Pitt he scored and set up multiple teammates.

"He definitely it to Pitt and he certainly helped us connect to the wings and attack out wide," said Louisville Coach Kyle Freeman. "He has stepped ip a lot."

Part of that is working at his craft. The kind of player who leads by example, Ayres "put in a lot of work to improve and also play different positions. He played 7s with NAV with Emil, and he learned a lot. But you have to be the kind of player who learns."

Emil would be Louisville Director of Rugby Emil Walton.

A player who could have waltzed onto a team thinking he'd figured it all out and knew where he was going to play instead changed everything, allowed himself to go outside his comfort zone, and embraced new ideas while putting in the work. The result? He's a better player for it, and Louisville is a better team for it.

DIAA Player of the Week: AJ Ayres, Louisville

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