Where do the new portal commitments/signees rank for Louisville football?
Jeff Brohm has experienced quick success in his brief time as the head coach of the Louisville football program. One of the key factors in this success has been his utilization of the college football transfer portal. Over half of the starting lineup were transfers in the Cards ACC Championship game birth against Florida State. This included star players like quarterback Jack Plummer, receiver Jamari Thrash, and running back Jawhar Jordan.
The 2024 transfer class includes 23 players so far and ranks 5th in 247 Sports Transfer Class Rankings. A clear emphasis for the Cards is pass catchers. They added two of the top receivers available in the portal Ja’Corey Brooks and Caullin Lacy. Additionally, they added tight end Mark Redman, who projects to be a premier weapon for Brohm, considering the success he’s had at Purdue with developing the position.
They are also building out the lines of scrimmage, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Harvard Transfer Thor Griffith was one of the top defensive linemen in the portal. They also flipped FIU transfer Jordan Guerad from Minnesota. He will add experience and depth to the DL room bringing over 84 tackles and five sacks over his career.
On the offensive side of the ball, Yale offensive lineman Jonathan Mendoza stands at six foot nine and will provide a huge presence to help protect injury-prone Tyler Shough at Quarterback. Ohio State transfer Victor Cutler also joins the transfer class. A reserve player for the Buckeyes in 2022, he spent his three previous seasons at Louisiana Monroe.
Two running backs join the Cards via the portal. The 2023 MAC offensive player of the year is now a Cardinal, and he projects to be a difference maker immediately. Miami transfer Donald Chaney is a former top one hundred prospect in the class of 2020 who compliments Boone and returning back Maurice Turner
A total of six secondary players were added to this class. In particular, two ball hawks have been added to the secondary. UCF transfer Corey Thornton has had a successful college career twice earning all-conference honors. He has an instinct for the ball and had three interceptions in 2023. Eastern Illinois transfer Blake Ruffin had four interceptions in 2023 earning him FCS All-American honors. Two former Tennessee teammates with significant starting experience will join the Cards at the safety position in Tamarion McDonald and Wesley Walker.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Cards also added TE and 502 native Izayah Cummings from Kentucky, interior offensive lineman Pete Nygra from Northern Illinois, defensive back Tayon Halloway from North Carolina, multi-year starter Monroe Mills of Texas Tech, Rasheed Miller from Georgia Southern and Reuben Unije of Houston as well as Texas A&M linebacker transfer Jurriente Davis who has stops at MTSU and Jackson State.
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1. Ja’Corey Brooks, WR
Previous School: Alabama
Brooks is a former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide and was ranked the number two receiver in the class of 2021. These two facts alone make for a convincing argument to rank him at the top of the Cards transfer class. His most productive year with the Crimson Tide came in 2022 where he had six-hundred and seventy-four yards receiving to go along with eight touchdowns. He capped that season off with a game-tying touchdown grab in the Iron Bowl against Auburn. Brooks oozes potential and he will join a deep Louisville receiving core in 2023.
2. Caullin Lacy, WR
Previous School: South Alabama
Lacy could wind up being the best addition to this Cards transfer class. The Mobile, AL native had one FBS offer out of high school which was from his hometown South Alabama Jaguars. He has made the most of his college career so far compiling 2129 receiving yards in the past two seasons. In 2023, he had 1316 yards receiving, ranked fifth in the FBS. Additionally, he showed his consistency as a receiver playing in all twelve games while eclipsing 100 yards receiving in eight out of twelve of those contests. Brooks might be the more talented portal commitment for the Cards, but Lacy has proven that he can produce at the collegiate level. Additionally, the Cards will return receivers Chris Bell, Jimmy Calloway, and Jadon Thompson next season to go along with the trio of Brooks, Lacy, and Antonio Meeks.
3. Peny Boone, RB
Previous school: Toledo, Maryland
Penny Boone was the MAC offense player of the year in 2023. Standing at 6-1 and over two-hundred and forty pounds he is a bruising back that will not go down at first contact. He rushed for over 1,400 yards and proved his ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield with the Rockets. However, he showed he is a diverse back as he had one hundred and sixteen receiving yards in that contest. Boone has the potential to be the most impactful player in this transfer class as the running back room is deep but young. His experience will lead him to a lead-back role next season for the Cards.
4. Monroe Mills, OL
Previous school: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State
Monroe Mills is yet another offensive line addition with starting experience at multiple positions. He started all twelve games for Texas Tech this past season at left tackle. He also provides some continuity as he guarded the blind side for Shough this past year. Shough, an injury-prone player will definitely have a connection with Mills. He has also started games at right tackle which seems more of a fit in the cards scheme next season. Tyler Shough will be the front-runner to take the throne at quarterback in 2024. His injury history would elude to Jonathan Mendoza being the likely candidate for left tackle given his towering frame which would put Mills at the other tackle position.
5. Mark Redman, TE
Previous schools: San Diego State, Washington
Redman was a talented recruit in the class of 2020 ranking as the twelfth-best tight-end prospect in the nation. He spent his first two seasons at Washington where he logged just one reception. He returned to his home state of California in 2022 to play for San Diego State where he saw immediate production earning first-team Mountain West honors. He has logged 641 yards and five touchdowns over the past two seasons with the Aztecs. This past season he earned second-team all-conference honors. Redman will look to translate his production over to a Cardinals offense that is eager for more tight-end production.
6. Pete Nygra, IOL
Former school: Northern Illinois
Nygra is the only O-line addition in the portal who has played one position during his college career. His lack of diversity on the line is due to his sure dominance at the center position. In two years as a starter for Northern Illinois, he has not allowed a single sack. With the departure of Bryan Hudson, Nygra is a surefire candidate to start at center next season for the Cards. You may not think the center position deserves to rank this high, but when you consider what Louisville has to replace and how much emphasis will be made on running up the middle, Nygra’s experience is a major benefit to the offense. He should be a plug and play starter who could potentially develop into an All-ACC type of lineman.
7. Thor Griffith, DL
Previous School: Harvard
This transfer class is a diverse one with players leaving perennial powers like Alabama and Ohio State. Conversely, Thor Griffith is leaving Harvard to join the Cards. Griffith, one of the first additions out of the portal for Jeff Brohm was a production machine during his time at Harvard. As a freshman, he earned All-American honors and over the past two seasons he has compiled twenty-three tackles for loss and eight and a half sacks. This earned him all Ivy League first-team honors the past two seasons. Griffith will join a defensive line that returns Ashton Gillotte, Mason Reiger, and Dezmond Tell. Gilotte, a first-team all-conference member in 2023 announced his intentions to return for his senior season last week.
8. Tamarion McDonald, S
Previous schools: Tennesee
Tamarion McDonald joins fellow former Vol Wesley Walker as a safety who will provide much-needed depth to the secondary. Cam Kelly started at the safety position in 2023 and he has declared for the draft. Jarvis Brownlee has also declared for the draft at the corner, and, likely, Quincy Riley will also be gone. With these key departures from the secondary, it is evident that reloading the secondary via the portal was a priority for the Cardinal coaching staff. McDonald was a starter for the Vols the past two seasons at the “star” position. This is a hybrid position between safety and linebacker. He totaled ninety-six tackles and ten pass breakups in the past two seasons. Walker and McDonald are both safeties, but McDonald will play a similar role to Ben Perry in the Cardinal’s defense allowing him to help in run defense and blitzing the passer off the edge. The continuity of Walker and McDonald along with their wealth of experience at the collegiate level makes it likely they will see significant playing time next year. Additionally, McDonald had originally committed to Ole Miss out of the portal. The Rebels have deeper pockets than about anyone else in the sport right now. However, McDonald wanted to link back up his former Vol teammate. Look for these two to be one of the best safety tandems in the ACC and hopefully the entire country next year.
9. Wesley Walker, S
Former school: Tennessee (Ole Miss), Georgia Tech
Walker brings a wealth of experience at the safety position for the Cards. He started his career at Georgia Tech before transferring to Tennessee for the 2022 season where he saw significant playing time. He started the first ten games this past season for the Vols. He has totaled one hundred and eighty-four tackles, eleven tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception in his collegiate career. He also is bringing along fellow former Vol Safety Tamarion McDonald. The addition of Walker and McDonald along with fellow transfer Blake Ruffin will provide excellent depth to a safety room. Devin Neal and MJ Griffin are the only returning players at the position with considerable experience so this trio of transfers will make the safety position one of the best for the Cards in 2024.
10. Corey Thornton, CB
Former school: Central Florida
The secondary might be losing the most production of any position group next season. After the Holiday Bowl, several pieces of the secondary have deflected with Storm Duck and Jarvis Brownlee choosing to pursue the NFL. Even with Louisville football bringing back Quincy Riley, there is a need for a quality starter at the position. Thornton is an addition that will add tons of experience to the position and should be a plug and play starter. He’s a ball hawk who had three interceptions in 2023 and got his hands on plenty of other passes. His length at 6-1 along with being a four-year starter at UCF allows him to be a versatile piece in the Card’s secondary next season.
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11. Tyler Shough, QB
Previous school: Texas Tech, Oregon
Shough will be entering his seventh year of college football in 2024. He has endured an injury-plagued career during stops at Oregon and Texas Tech. Jeff Brohm made Shough the first addition to the portal class two weeks ago. Brohm values experience at the quarterback position as sixth-year player Jack Plummer started at quarterback for the Cards this past season. If he can stay healthy, he has the weapons at his disposal to put together another special season in year two under Jeff Brohm.
12. Blake Ruffin, S
Former school: Eastern Illinois (FCS)
It seems a transfer addition with three interceptions was not enough. Blake Ruffin had four picks in 2023 at the FCS level with Eastern Illinois. Power five football will be a step up but four picks is an impressive stat at any level. He played safety at his previous stop and this is likely a natural fit with the Cards with his ball-hawk nature and the departure of Cam Kelly.
13. Donald Chaney, RB
Previous school: Miami
Chaney has spent his previous four years with Miami. He was a consensus four-star high school prospect who never fully lived up to tape during his time in Coral Gables. He will look to change this during his final year of eligibility. He is the second running back in this transfer class. Jawhar Jordan and Issac Guerendo are out of eligibility so he will have an opportunity to compete for starting time. At just 5-10 and 200 pounds he is a smaller back that has lots of explosion. If he can find green grass look for Chaney to be a home run-hitting player in the backfield along with special teams next season!
14. Jonathan Mendoza, OL
Previous School: Yale
Mendoza stands at 6-9 making him one of the tallest players in all of college football. He is a very versatile player that played right guard, right tackle and left tackle during his time at Yale. Mendoza seems like a natural fit to replace Willie Tyler at the position following his decision to head to the professional. Whoever the quarterback is for Louisville next season it would be reassuring to know a player with Mendoza’s size is protecting the blind side.
15. Jordan Guerad, DL
Previous School: FIU (Minnesota)
There are few teams across all of college football outperforming Jeff Brohm and his staff in the portal. In addition to adding key pieces they also flipped one in Jordan Guerad when he decommited from Minnesota in favor of the Cards. The defensive line room returns Ashton Gillotte and also added one of the top defensive linemen available in the portal in Thor Griffith. Guerad has amassed thirteen tackles for loss and five sacks in his college career. He is much more than a depth piece for the cards. Look for him and Griffith to be significant contributors on the interior defensive line in 2024.
16. Victor Cutler, OL
Previous School: Ohio State, Louisiana Monroe
Cutler is another versatile offensive line addition for Louisville. The Ohio State transfer saw limited time this past season. However, he spent his three previous seasons at Louisiana Lafayette where he started games at center, right tackle, and left tackle. If a program like Ohio State was willing to add him via the portal his potential is there. His experience and ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line make him a great addition.
17. Izayah Cummings, TE
Previous school: Kentucky
When a former Kentucky Wildcat departs to come to Louisville its a win for the Cards. Cummings started his career as a wild receiver and adds valuable depth to the tight end room. With the upside of Mark Redman, along with the return of Nate Kurisky and Jamari Johnson, it may be tough for Cummings to get significant reps at TE. However, he has shown big-play ability as he averaged twenty-five yards a reception this past season including a fifty-five-yard grab against the Cards in the Governor’s Cup. Depth and experience at TE is always a win.
18. Reuben Unije, OT
Previous school: Houston
Offensive line depth is always a positive and it has been a priority for the Cards. Unije is the sixth offensive line addition to this portal class. 2023 was Unije’s fourth season at Houston but his first as a starter. In 679 blocking snaps, he only let up five sacks. Despite this productivity, he is likely a depth piece along the offensive line next season. Last offseason, Brohm and company brought in six offensive linemen via the portal, and several players did not see much playing time. When this many players are brought in at a single position group the reality is that some players are not going to see the field.
19. Tayon Halloway, CB
Former school: North Carolina
Another defensive back added through the portal to Louisville football’s roster is Tayon Holloway. One of the highest regarded high school prospects in this portal class held offers from places like Alabama, FSU, and Oregon among others. After a redshirt in his first year, he started at corner for the Tar Heels in 2023. Look for him to play a big role in the secondary along with another young but talented transfer Marcus Washington who transferred from Georgia last season.
20. Daeh McCullough, S
Previous School: Oklahoma
This was one of the more surprising commitments of this portal class. However, when a team is adding 20-plus players via the portal there are bound to be some unexpected commitments. McCullough was yet another talented prospect out of high school as a consensus four-star prospect when he chose to attend Oklahoma. His father is a running backs coach at Notre Dame and previously coached the same position at Indiana where Daeh initially committed to out of high school. McCullough has four years of eligibility remaining so look for his role to steadily increase over his time as a Cardinal. This class includes three other safety commitments all with significant collegiate experience so McCullough will serve as a rotational player this upcoming season.
21. Rasheed Miller, OL
Previous School: Georgia Southern
Miller is yet another offensive lineman that the Cards have added out of the portal. A team can never have too much offensive line depth. Like portal addition, Rueben Unije Miller has just one full year as a starter under his belt. He started all thirteen games for Southern last season at right tackle. He has a big frame at 6-7. He was an All-Sun-Belt second-team performer this past season and depending on need and fit at the next level, he could find himself competing for a starting slot. Outside of Michael Gonzalez, Mills and Nygra, the offensive line should be an open battle across multiple spots heading into spring ball.
22. Jurriente Davis, LB
Previous school: Texas A&M, Jackson State, Middle Tennessee State
Only in 2024 can you talk about a player attending his fifth school during his collegiate career. Davis began his college career at Hutchinson Community College, then attended Middle Tennessee, Jackson State, and finally spent last season with Texas A&M. He had a breakout season in 2021 where he amassed over seventy tackles. In the last portal cycle, he was a target for Jeff Brohm and his staff before committing to A&M. He only recorded two tackles this past season and decided to redshirt to maintain his final year of college eligibility. The linebacker room is already thin with the departures of Jackson Hamilton and Keith Brown to the portal. Additionally, Gilbert Frierson who played OLB graduated. So far Davis is the only linebacker committed in this portal class so look for his experience and the lack of depth in this room to lead to him seeing significant playing time in 2023.
23. Antonio Meeks, WR
Previous school: Tuskegee University
Antonio Meeks might be the most unknown player joining the cards via the portal. He spent his first two seasons at Division Two Tuskegee State. He had over fourteen hundred yards receiving in his first two college seasons. Additionally, he earned several Power Five offers which shows his talents were desired in the portal. He joins a receiving room that is desperate for an impact player with the departure of Jamari Thrash to the draft. After Thrash, the next leading receiver for the Cards this past season was Chris Bell with just over four hundred yards. Jeff Brohm recognizes the need at this position with the additions of highly ranked portal commitments Ja’Corey Brooks and Caullin Lacy. However, Brohm’s offense features many pass catchers, and this will allow Meeks to show his ability early in the season against lesser competition.
