An early look at the top local and in-state players being targeted by Louisville football.
Coming into the 2021 football recruiting cycle, the expectation for Louisville football was to continue to add quality depth to a depleted roster. However, the Cardinal coaching staff has exceeded expectations; with 22 commits, Louisville currently is ranked 32nd in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings. To put things into perspective, the class has an average recruit ranking of .8614, which is on track to be one of the best in school history. The staff will look to finish the class with graduate transfers that can help immediately, but the staff’s momentum bodes well for the 2022 cycle.
After building depth in 2020 and 2021, head coach Scott Satterfield and company look to hit some home runs in 2022. Luckily for them, the state of Kentucky offers them the opportunity to do just that; not to mention, recruiting the state better has been a focal point for the coaching staff. Recruiting for the 2022 class has yet to pick up, but will in due time. Let’s take a look at the names to watch for in the Bluegrass state.
Names to know for Louisville football in 2022
Gavin Wimsatt – QB
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 200 lbs
High School: Owensboro
National ranking: 40th-overall; 2nd-ranked dual-threat quarterback (247Sports)
State ranking: Top-overall prospect (247Sports)
Notable Offers: Notre Dame, Louisville, Michigan, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, etc.
Dalton’s take: Wimsatt saw a monumental rise in the 247Sports rankings back in the late summer and will be atop many programs’ wish list. It will be an uphill battle for the Cardinals to secure his services, but the staff has identified him as a top target and will continue to turn up the heat in their efforts.
Selah Brown – ATH
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 270 lbs
High School: Louisville Male
National ranking: 303rd-overall; 18th-ranked athlete (247Sports Composite)
State ranking: 3rd-overall (247Sports Composite)
Notable Offers: Louisville, Tennessee, Stanford, Kentucky, Howard, Missouri, Purdue, West Virginia
Dalton’s take: Louisville football continues to struggle in the trenches, and the versatile defensive lineman that goes to school less than 10 miles away from campus offers immediate assistance. Brown grew up a fan of the hometown Cardinals and has attended a plethora of games. His recruitment has blown up over the past couple months, and will continue to do so heading into his senior year. Louisville is in a good position for Brown, but will need to keep prioritizing him.
Dane Key – WR
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 170 lbs
High School: Frederick Douglass
National ranking: 223rd-overall; 31st-ranked wide receiver (247Sports)
State ranking: 2nd-overall (247Sports)
Notable Offers: Louisville, Oregon, Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Maryland, Purdue, Virginia, Virginia Tech, etc.
Dalton’s take: Getting a highly-touted wide receiver from Lexington will be an extremely tall task for the Cards; not only does the staff have to beat out Kentucky, but also a slew of top programs from across the nation. Regardless, I expect Louisville to recruit Key hard until the very end. Perhaps the program’s recent success with wide receivers will work wonders in terms of getting a seat at the table.
Treyveon Longmire – ATH
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 170 lbs
High School: Corbin
National ranking: 332nd-overall; 22nd-ranked athlete (247Sports Composite)
State ranking: 4th-overall (247Sports Composite)
Notable Offers: Louisville, Michigan, Kentucky, Florida State, Cincinnati, Arkansas, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Purdue, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech
Dalton’s take: Kentucky likely leads for Longmire’s services at this time, but top programs are starting to focus their attention on the four-star athlete. Like Key’s recruitment, it will be extremely tough for the Cardinals, but Louisville football will continue recruiting him hard until the end.
Jadairion Smith – DE
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 205 lbs
High School: Ballard
National ranking: 40th-ranked weak defensive end (247Sports)
State ranking: 12th-overall (247Sports)
Notable Offers: Louisville, Toledo, Kent State
Dalton’s take: Smith’s recruitment has yet to take off, but Clemson and Louisville have been showing considerable interest. The Tigers would likely be the Cardinals’ top threat to steal the hometown prospect, but I expect Louisville to turn up their efforts over the coming months.
Others to know
Caden Veltcamp – QB, South Warren
The Cards have expressed recent interest in the high three-star signal-caller; despite recruiting a slew of top quarterback prospects, it would not surprise me in the slightest if Louisville turned up the heat heading into the spring.
Michael Hawkins – TE, Somerset
Louisville football has yet to offer, but has kept in contact with the three-star tight end. If the Cards offer, they’re in a solid position.
Jawuan Northington – ATH, duPont Manual
I believe it’s a matter of when and not if Northington receives an offer from Louisville; the dynamic playmaker has been electric in his career for the Crimsons.
Grant Bingham – OT, Johnson Central
Kentucky will be tough to fend off for the 6-foot-6 Paintsville native’s services, but also watch out for Notre Dame.
Ty Bryant – ATH, Frederick Douglass
Louisville faces the same problem for Bryant as they do Key; the reality of the situation is that stealing Lexington recruits from Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow is not an easy task.
Armon Tucker (RB – Trinity), Vinny Anthony, Elijah Manning (WR/LB – Louisville Male),
The three hometown recruits have burst onto the scene thanks to standout play, but it is unclear if Louisville will get involved. Should they appear on the Cardinals’ radar, they will immediately become realistic options to join the 2022 class.
