It sure feels good to watch Louisville football winning again, doesn’t it?
As we get closer to the early signing period and some of the more well-known names amongst the Louisville football fan base begin to commit (either to Louisville or elsewhere), we need to start taking a look at some of the other prospects the staff could look to add to #FlyVille23. Here are three under-the-radar names that fans should keep an eye on (and show some love to).
To clarify, this article is to highlight three prospects that aren’t big names swirling around the fanbase (such as Cole Martin, Rueben Bain, etc.) and is NOT covering “sleeper” prospects who haven’t seen a lot of national recruiting attention.
All three of these prospects have legit offers and their recruitment is far from a cakewalk.
Tyler Brown – Wide receiver, Greenville High (SC)
Brown checks in at 5’11 and 170lbs, similar to the size and physical profile of fellow SC native and now-Cardinal playmaker, Ahmari Huggins-Bruce. Like Bruce, Brown’s film is full of burning speed and dangerous run-after-catch (RAC) ability. He’s a smooth accelerator who has an impressive second gear to pull away from defenders in the open field. Brown’s calling card, however, is how difficult he is to bring down. He is excellent at maintaining his balance and center of gravity through contact and has a variety of jukes and release moves to make defenders miss. Additionally, Brown showcases natural hands and can make difficult catches away from his frame. He already displays nuance in his routes and has many traits that suggest he can be a dangerous and versatile threat for Louisville’s offense.
Check out his senior season highlights here.
Brown fits the description of a true under-the-radar prospect more so than the next two prospects, as he currently only has three power-five offers (Louisville, Minnesota, and Virginia Tech). He also boasts a list of Ivy League offers such as Harvard, Brown, UPenn, and Dartmouth, speaking to his intelligence and character. Brown would be a welcome addition to the wide receiver room and his RAC ability gives him a unique skillset to balance out what other players in #FlyVille23 have to offer.
Also read: Why Louisville football could land top 100 D-Lineman
Keyshawn Blackstock – Offensive Line, Coffeyville C.C. (GA)
At 6’5 and 315lbs, Blackstock has the ideal size and length to be able to play multiple positions along the offensive line. Currently playing left tackle at Coffeyville CC, his best trait is his ability to move in space. He has near-elite mobility for a player his size and has no problem dispatching linebackers and defensive backs at the second level. He displays great awareness in pass protection to engage double teams and hand off defenders to engage on another target. He has impressive moments in pass protection on film and looks to be able to step into playing time very early in his career.
Check out some of his game film here.
After missing out on Raymond Pulido and Koby Keenum, the Cards have been looking to add another difference maker to the offensive line to the ’23 class to create depth behind a line that could be losing multiple starters. Blackstock has a strong list of offers including Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Oregon, Oklahoma, Louisville, and others. He has recently taken a visit to Illinois and 247 sports currently feels Illinois and Auburn are the two leaders in the hunt but expect the Cards to make a strong push for the versatile offensive lineman as we get closer to signing day.
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Tyler Scott – Safety, Pebblebrook (GA)
Tyler Scott measures in at 6’2 and 185lbs and plays both outside corner and safety at Pebblebrook. What pops out the most on his film is the physicality and aggressiveness he plays the game with. Whether it’s pressing at the line of scrimmage, coming downhill to blow up a ball carrier, or making a play on the ball at the catch point, Scott is bringing the fight. He has great length at his disposal as well as above average athletic traits. He plays well in a variety of coverages and has a knack for finding the ball in the air and making a play on it. Scott likely translates best to a safety role at the next level, where he can use his superb instincts to track and attack the ball and ball carriers. However, his versatility could allow him to line up in a variety of spots in the defensive backfield.
Check out his senior season highlights here.
Originally an Arkansas State commit, Scott’s had one of the biggest recruitment booms in the entire class of ’23. In the month of October alone Scott has picked up offers from Louisville, Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, LSU, Auburn, and more. He has already locked in official visits to Auburn, Alabama, and Texas so Louisville will have to push hard to get Scott on campus. Louisville football faces stout competition to earn Scott’s commitment, however it is possible that a more linear path to early playing time, as well as the wave of momentum the Cards are currently riding, could play in their favor.
Yes, it does feel good to watch Louisville winning again! While I can’t get to the games, I can watch and jump up and cheer when we get a touchdown! I know they can’t hear me when a player breaks loose for a long run and I’m yelling at the TV, “GO! GO! GO!