An in-depth look at Louisville football recruiting efforts across each position group.
The wait is finally over, Louisville football is back. Sure, things didn’t go the way we expected them to on Saturday night. But I’m choosing to look at what positives we still have going for us.
I’ll leave the game breakdowns and season expectations to the rest of the gang here at the State of Louisville. For now, let’s talk about recruiting. Specifically, what we have done well so far, what needs we still have to fill, and some names to watch out for in both the class of ’23 and ’24.
I present to you: the comprehensive Louisville football position-by-position recruiting guide headed into the season. Lets get started.
Offense
Quarterback
Louisville is set at the quarterback position for the ’23 recruiting class. The spot is held by one of, if not the most, popular recruits in #FlyVille23: Pierce Clarkson. Clarkson has been committed to the Cards since January 28th of this year and was the second prospect to join the class. Landing Clarkson was one of the biggest indicators that Louisville’s staff has taken a huge step forward in recruiting efforts and ultimately led to several other high-caliber recruits to join the class.
Clarkson is listed at 6’0 and 190lbs, which puts him on the smaller end for quarterbacks, but don’t let his size fool you. He has a live arm, tremendous athleticism, and well-refined mechanics. It’s easy to tell he’s the son of a coach when you turn on the tape – he routinely keeps his eyes downfield and is unafraid to take a hit if it means delivering the ball to an open receiver. Clarkson looks to be a multi-year starter who’s skillset fits very nicely with what Louisville football likes from their quarterbacks.
The Cards are finished recruiting the quarterback position for the ’23 class but have already started their homework on the class of ’24 signal callers. One of my personal favorites is IMG Academy’s Jayden Bradford, who made an unofficial visit to Louisville football back in June of this year. He has received two crystal ball predictions on Rivals in favor of the Cards but there is a long way to go in his recruitment. Additionally, the staff is particularly high on three-star, Samaj Jones from St. Joseph’s Prep in PA. Jones is a great athlete with natural arm strength, mobility, and ability to improvise. His film is a lot of fun to watch and it’s easy to see how he fits into Louisville’s offense.
Running Back
Going into the season, the running back room looked to be one of the most loaded position groups on the entire roster. The commitment of El Campo, TX native Rueben Owens may make this group virtually unstoppable. Owens is not only the highest rated recruit in #FlyVille23, but he’s also rated as the second highest recruit to ever commit to the Cards, only behind Michael Bush.
Owens is a do-it-all weapon that can benefit the offense in several ways. He has excellent top-end speed and effortlessly breaks away from defenders with a combination of shiftiness and power. Owns has showcased his receiving ability at multiple camps over the summer. “The Black Unicorn” is a truly dynamic player who will make a day-one impact for the Cards and has the billings of an eventual high draft pick.
Not only have they landed a high caliber player in the ’23 class, but they have also earned a commitment from four-star, Isaac Brown from Homestead, FL in the ’24 class. Listed at 5’9 and 180lbs, Brown has absurd speed and can accelerate instantly. He also takes snaps at the wide receiver position, routinely blowing by defenders and reeling in deep balls. Louisville football is clearly targeting backs who can make an impact as both runners and pass catchers.
At one point, Louisville was looking to add two backs in the class of ’23 and were involved in the recruitment of 4-stars, Dontavius Braswell and Javin Simpkins. With Owens in tow, it may be challenging to land another back for #FlyVille23, but they are likely still exploring their options. I see them taking two backs in the ’24 class if they can’t pick up a 2nd in ’23.
Wide Receiver
Wide receiver is one of the most critical positions to nail for #FlyVille23, as the current roster is sorely lacking depth and a long-term playmaker outside of Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (who I have a great deal of faith in). So far, new receivers coach and offensive coordinator, Lance Taylor has not disappointed. The Cards have already landed three big-time playmakers in four-stars, DeAndre Moore and William Fowles and three-star, Jahlil McClain.
DeAndre Moore is one of the biggest names to ever commit to the Cards, currently sitting at the 6th highest rated prospect in school history and the 2nd highest rated receiver, behind James Quick. It’s easy to get excited about what Moore brings to the table.
At 6’0 and 185lbs he is an excellent candidate to play either inside or outside for the cardinal offense. He has great athleticism, hands, run-after-catch ability, and tremendous contested catch and high-point ability.
Fowles is a bigger wide receiver at 6’2 and 195lbs and looks to play the X receiver for the Cards. He has surprising speed for his size and has a strong athletic profile. His routes could use some refinement but overall has great traits to work with. He uses his physical gifts to specialize at making tough catches and blocks with an edge.
McClain is listed as an ATH and plays both receiver and defensive back for the Bosco Braves but will play receiver for the Cardinals. At 5’10 and 180lbs, McClain will likely play at the slot primarily but has some outside flexibility. He’s a good athlete with quick acceleration and deep speed. McClain already has some savviness to his routes and could develop into a solid contributor down the stretch.
The staff are looking to add at least one more receiver to this class, likely two, which would go a long way towards adding some much-needed depth to the position.
Two big names to watch for are Duce Robinson and Robby Washington. Though most services consider Robinson to be a tight end, and the top one in the country at that, he plays primarily outside receiver in his current offense at Pinnacle (AZ). The Cards are recruiting him to play that same position. At 6’6 and 225lbs, Robinson is a dynamic athlete who could prove to be a matchup nightmare for defenses. There is a long way to go in his recruitment, but Louisville football is firmly in the hunt. Washington is a player I have previously written about, which you can find here. Although he’s currently committed to Miami, he has stated that he and his twin brother Bobby plan on taking a visit to Louisville sometime during the season. We’ll definitely keep an eye on the Miami speedster for a potential flip. Another player in the class of ’24 is Clay-Charkville, AL native, Mario Craver. Craver, who is the cousin of current Louisville quarterback Khalib Johnson, is a four-star prospect with elite speed, quickness, and change of direction ability. The Cards will have to fend off the likes of Oklahoma and Alabama to land his commitment, but the family ties to Johnson may play in Louisville’s favor.
Relevant to Louisville football recruiting: Could a flip be brewing in South Florida?
Tight End
Louisville football looks to be done recruiting the tight end position for #FlyVille23 after landing the commitment of Jamari Johnson in April of this year. He is listed as a three-star prospect on major recruiting sites. Personally, I feel that Johnson is one of the most underrated members of Louisville’s ’23 class. The Inglewood, CA native has the billings of an early contributor and long-time starter and is the likely heir to Marshon Ford.
Johnson is a fantastic athlete at the position and has ideal size to match. At 6’5 and 250lbs, he comes with a college-ready frame that he uses to physically dominate his opponents at the point of attack. He plays both outside receiver and “H” tight end in his current offense, and primary serves as a receiving threat. He has great hands and understanding of body positioning to make tough catches along with dangerous after-the-catch abilities. He already shows nuance in his route running and looks to be a contributor in the pass game from day 1 in Louisville’s offense. He will likely have to refine his blocking at the next level, but his receiving ability is hard not to get excited about.
Johnson has been committed to Louisville for several months now, but he just picked up an offer from Alabama a couple weeks ago. Coach Stepp will have to continue to recruit him hard to ensure he stays put, but I feel confident about the odds of the Cards retaining him. Provided Johnson’s commitment holds, Louisville’s staff is finished recruiting the position for the class of ’23 and now looks to add another playmaker in the class of ’24. The biggest name to watch for is Grayson, GA native, Kylan Fox, who the staff has already made a priority target.
Offensive Line
Offensive line is the position group that currently holds the highest number of commitments in #FlyVille23 with three. Coach Cardwell has accumulated a solid group of linemen to build upon depth and perhaps even some early starters. The group consists of four-star guard Madden Sanker, four-star tackle Luke Burgess, and three-star guard Jordan Church.
Sanker has already become a fan favorite, between his impressive highlight reel, knack for trash-talking, and outward love for the program and fans. The South Paulding, GA product is the smallest of the offensive line commits at 6’4 and 305lbs, however, he is plenty big enough to play any of the interior line positions. I see him best fitting in as Caleb Chandler’s successor at left guard. He’s an excellent blocker in both the run and pass game and plays with the kind of nasty edge you want to see out of linemen. He is also a state champion wrestler, which shows in his game through his understanding of leverage and moving his opponents off their spot.
Burgess, out of New Palestine, IN was the first of the three linemen to commit and looks to be a future starter at either tackle position, although I believe he has the potential to be a rock-solid starter at left tackle. The first things that jump out to you are his size, 6’7½ and 285lbs, and arm length. He has no issue keeping opponents at bay with his long arms and excellent hand technique. For his size he moves remarkably well – his pass sets are smooth, and he can get downfield well to block second level defenders. He needs to add mass and power, but I love the foundation he brings to the table.
Church will require the most development before seeing the field out of the three, but his physical tools are exciting. At 6’5 and 325lbs, he has the ideal build for a guard and the power to match. He has moments on tape where he completely stops defenders in their tracks when his punch is accurate and well timed. His natural power is his best asset, and he can generate a lot of movement in the run game. If he can refine his hand technique and footwork, he could be a mauler of a right guard down the stretch. I’m looking forward to seeing his development now that he has transferred to IMG Academy (FL).
Originally looking to build a group of five offensive linemen, the Cards missed out on tackle Raymond Pulido to Alabama and center Koby Keenum to Kentucky. It now remains unclear whether Louisville football plans to take any more linemen this class, but I would imagine Coach Cardwell and Co. are still evaluating their options. As for the class of ’24, a few names to keep your eyes on are Josiah Thompson (Dillon, SC), Ory Williams (San Marcos, TX), and Fletcher Westphal (Leesburg, VA). All three are towering offensive tackle prospects who stand over 6’6, with both Williams and Westphal clearing 6’7. It is clear that Louisville is still in hunt for size at the tackle position and both are ideal fits to eventually slot opposite of Burgess.
Defense
Defensive Line
Defensive line is a position that has struggled for some time now but finally seems to be taking shape. Landing Jermayne Lole through the transfer portal is a huge get, and Ashton Gillotte and Dez Tell look ready to take the next step. Mark Ivey deserves a lot of credit for the depth he has created on the defensive line and the job he has done to develop his players. Because of this, the Cards can now afford to take quality over quantity. The class of ’23 has a lone defensive line commitment in four-star defensive end, Adonijah Green and could look to take another if the fit is right.
Adonijah Green was the first commitment for #FlyVille23 and has seen his stock climb from three-star to four-star status over the summer. At 6’5 and 210lbs, Green has great anatomical length for the defensive end position. The first thing I noticed on his film was how great his hand technique and block deconstruction skills are. He’s a dangerous pass rusher who can utilize a variety of moves to beat opposing linemen. He holds his ground exceptionally well for his weight, which gets you excited for his potential once he puts on a few pounds. He is a very disruptive penetration-style player who will offer a great deal of versatility for the Cardinal defensive line.
As previously stated, the name of the game is now quality over quantity, and I don’t feel like Louisville football will be taking another defensive lineman unless they believe they can make an immediate impact. One name to look out for in the class of ’23 is former Illinois commit and Kentucky native, Jamarrion Harkless. Harkless had a big junior season and has seen a boom in his recruitment this past spring and summer.
At 6’4 and 290lbs he would likely slot in at nose tackle for the Cards. He’s an excellent athlete for a big man and there are times he simply looked unblockable. One of the most popular targets with fans in the ’24 class is the Burford, GA native, KingJoseph Edwards. The four-star boasts a substantial list of offers, such as Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, among others, but has already made a visit to campus and plans to visit again for a game during the season. He speaks highly of the staff and those relationships are likely to keep the Cards in the running.
Linebacker
The linebacker room is one that has been sorely lacking quality depth for a while now. Outside of a few splash plays here and there, the Cards have struggled to replace production when either CJ Avery or Monty Montgomery have been injured. Bringing in Momo Sanogo from the transfer portal should fill the hole left by Avery nicely, but this is only a temporary solution and adding playmakers at the position should still be at the top of the list for Satterfield and Co. They have gotten off to a strong start adding to the group in #FlyVille23 with four-star Miami native, Stanquan Clark, but the staff is likely looking for at least one more linebacker to add to the class before it’s finished.
Clark is a converted safety who moved to linebacker during his junior season. He is 6’2 and 215lbs with high-level athletic traits. He is a valuable asset against both the run and the pass and has a nose for making a play on the football. He crashes into gaps and creates negative plays consistently. Once he is more familiar with the linebacker position and can speed up his instincts and processing the sky is the limit for the Miami Central product. You can read my full evaluation of Clark here.
Another linebacker target the Cards have made a priority for the class of ’23 is former Arkansas commit, Everett Roussaw. The three-star linebacker from Ellenwood, GA is an aggressive and instinctive player who can close on ball carriers in a hurry and even make big plays on special teams. He could look to fill a Monty Montgomery-type role for Bryan Brown’s defense.
Additionally, watch out for former teammate of Stanquan Clark, three-star Bobby Washington. Washington is a big-time hitter with good size and frame who could prove to be a solid developmental prospect for either inside linebacker or as a rush (Dog) linebacker.
In the class of ’24, the staff look to return to the Bosco pipeline for impact defenders once again, this time for four-star linebacker, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. Viliamu-Asa is ranked as the number two linebacker in his recruiting class according to the 247 composite, so there will be many suitors after his commitment. Having several of his teammates already committed to the Cards can only help and landing a player of his caliber at a position of need is exactly what this defensive front needs to contend for conference titles.
As for outside linebackers, the staff has a lot of interest in a pair of Florida natives, Adarius Hayes (Largo, FL) and TJ Capers (Columbus, FL). Both are sure to be highly coveted by local and national programs alike, but the staff have shown their commitment to developing relationships in the Miami area and we could see that effort come into play here. Hayes and Capers would both slot in at the dog linebacker spot and could even offer some inside linebacker flexibility.
Cornerback
Cornerback is a position of need for the Cards, one that has been patched up and added to mostly through the transfer portal thus far. While this method has worked out in the short term and has provided us with starts such as Kei’trel Clark, this model isn’t sustainable and it’s imperative that secondary depth be built. Bryan Brown has done well to capitalize on the #CaliToTheVille momentum and secure a commitment from four-star corner Aaron Williams, as well as adding three-star Rayquan Adkins from Miami, but there is still work to be done.
Aaron Williams is the second highest rated corner to ever commit to Louisville football, and his game tape reflects that of a high caliber starter and potential all-conference honoree. At 6’2 and 175lbs, he has great length and athleticism and is a perfect candidate to play outside corner. His instincts are exceptional, and he can make plays on the ball in multiple ways, whether it be interceptions, pass breakups, or forced fumbles. He moves and turns very well, especially for a corner of his size. He’s a solid tackler and can even contribute as a punt returner. Williams looks to be a day one contributor to Louisville’s defense.
Adkins is smaller than Williams at 5’10½ and 155lbs, but don’t let the size fool you. The Miami Northwestern product has a nose for the football and great athletic traits. His best traits are his speed, ability to make short-area adjustments, and how he reacts quickly to the ball. His ball skills and competitive nature often lead to turnovers and pass breakups even against larger opponents. He plays bigger than his size and brings a “ball is mine” mentality when going for interceptions. If he can gain weight and retain his athleticism, Adkins can blossom into a starting caliber player with inside/outside flexibility.
At one point, Louisville football had four cornerbacks committed to the team but lost both Martell Hight and Jeremiah Collins in the month of June when both of their recruitments ramped up. The Cards will have to add at least one more corner in this recruiting class and will likely aim to add two. One name to watch is current Oregon commit, Cole Martin, who Pierce Clarkson and the staff have been working hard to flip. However, his father is the cornerbacks coach at Oregon, which certainly makes his recruitment an uphill battle.
For the ’24 class, the staff are already working on four-star corner, Marcelles Williams, who plays with Pierce Clarkson at St. John Bosco. Williams is a consensus top-100 player in the nation and top 10 at his position. Relationships will play a key role in his recruitment – it would be more than favorable for Louisville to have a St. John Bosco reunion in the secondary.
Safety
Safety is a position that now has surprising depth at both spots after an off-season of additions, via the transfer portal and high school prospects, D’Angelo Hutchinson and Jeremiah Caldwell, as well as the emergence of sophomore Josh Minkins. The Cards have already landed one playmaking safety prospect in the class of ’23 with GA native, Jayden Davis and could possibly be looking for another if the fit is right.
Jayden Davis is a three-star free safety who plays at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, GA. Standing at 6’2 and 175lbs, he has great length and size for the position. The first thing that pops out on his tape is his tracking ability and reaction time. Davis is an opportunistic ball hawk who has a great feel for where the ball is going to be along with the hands and body positioning to create turnovers. He is very solid in both man and zone coverage but is at his best when allowed to patrol the middle of the field and react to the ball in the air. He has the makings of a true playmaker for Louisville’s defense and his nose for the ball will make it hard to keep him off the field early in his career.
It is unlikely that another safety is taken in the class of ’23, but there has been some buzz surrounding RJ Jones. As I have previously mentioned, the fit must be right for Louisville to take another safety and I’m not sure Jones is a perfect match, but Pierce Clarkson is lobbying in his favor, and it never hurts to have another Louisville football ambassador at Bosco. At the very least it’s a situation worth monitoring. Speaking of Bosco Braves, Louisville is in the hunt for the second highest ranked safety in the ’24 class, Peyton Woodyard. He has previously taken unofficial visits to campus, which helps the Cards case tremendously in developing a relationship with the star defensive back. Combined with several of his current teammates being Louisville football commits, Louisville has a fighting chance in earning Woodyard’s eventual commitment.
The Cards will take any advantage they can get, as they will have to recruit against nearly every other powerhouse in the country for this five-star’s talents.
