Early Scouting Report: Louisville Cardinals
Training camp is off and running at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility as head coach Mark Stoops begins his 12th fall camp at Kentucky. The 2024 college football season is almost here. We are getting ready for the season by previewing each opponent on Kentucky’s schedule at KSR+.
For the seventh year in a row, I will be providing weekly scouting reports on Thursday for Kentucky’s upcoming opponent that will include an in-depth look at personnel, advanced stats, scheme background, betting information, series history, program profile, and keys to victory. That is just around the corner.
But it’s never too early to start getting some homework done. We are now pumping out some early scouting reports as we research and take a closer look at the foes on Kentucky’s schedule. Next up is an ACC program that has leaned hard into the transfer portal in roster-building.
Early Scouting Report: Southern Miss
Early Scouting Report: South Carolina
Early Scouting Report: Georgia
Early Scouting Report: Ole Miss
Early Scouting Report: Vanderbilt
Early Scouting Report: Florida
Early Scouting Report: Tennessee
State of the Program
Scott Satterfield finished year four at Louisville with a 7-5 (4-4) record. The ACC program was finally starting to build some momentum. The Cards fielded their best defense in nearly a decade under defensive coordinator Bryan Brown, and tailback Jawhar Jordan was one of the best in the ACC. With a top-25 high school recruiting class committed, things were looking up.
That was until Satterfield decided to bolt.
The Louisville administration was unwilling to hand out a contract extension and Satterfield jumped at the opportunity to replace Luke Fickell at Cincinnati for one of the strangest hires of the coaching carousel. That move allowed Louisville to hire the coach that everyone originally wanted when this job opened during the 2018 season.
Jeff Brohm played quarterback at Louisville from 1989-93. A decade later, he joined UofL’s staff under Bobby Petrino and became offensive coordinator under Steve Kragthorpe. After a falling out, Brohm bounced around to a couple of different places before re-joining Petrino at WKU in 2013. After Petrino left for Louisville again, Brohm became head coach at WKU and led the Tops to consecutive C-USA titles in 2015-16 building one of the most exciting offenses in college football. That work in Bowling Green landed Brohm at Purdue. The 53-year-old spent six seasons in the Big Ten accumulating a 36-34 (26-25) record with a Big Ten West division title in 2022. After turning down Louisville in 2019, Brohm was unable to do that again.
The move paid off in a big way in year one. Louisville loaded up on transfers and got off to a 10-1 start thanks to an unblemished 5-0 record in one-possession games. The Cards got as high as No. 10 in the AP Top 25 before a three-game losing streak occurred but there was no denying that the play-calling head coach made a big first splash. Now the Cards are attempting to make another splash with a roster filled with first-year transfers again.
Transfer Portal Recap
Jeff Brohm has made his roster-building strategy clear since his arrival — Louisville is a transfer portal program. The Cardinals had some major turnover with over 25 players leaving the program but the ACC program also added over 25 transfers. Louisville even saw some double-dip transfers with Tyler Baron (Miami), Wesley Walker (Michigan), Peny Boone (UCF), and Reuben Unije (UCLA) leaving the program after spending the spring semester at Louisville. That creates a unique-looking depth chart.
Tyler Shough (QB, Texas Tech), Donald Chaney (RB, Miami), Ja’Corey Brooks (WR, Alabama), Caullin Lacy (WR, South Alabama), Mark Redman (TE, San Diego State), Pete Nygra (C, Northern Illinois), Jonathan Mendoza (T, Yale), and Monroe Mills (T, Texas Tech) could all be starters on offense. Thor Griffith (iDL, Harvard), Corey Thornton (CB, UCF), Tahveon Nicholson (CB, Illinois), Tamarion McDonald (DB, Tennessee) Tramel Logan (EDGE, South Florida), Richard Kinley (EDGE, Middle Tennessee) and Myles Jernigan (EDGE, California) could all be starters on defense.
That is a lot of new for offensive coordinator Brian Brohm and defensive coordinator Ron English. But there were some notable losses.
Starting linebacker Jaylin Alderman is now at Miami. Louisville lost three rotation defensive tackles to the portal. Two rotation receivers left for the SEC. The double-dip transfers were all expected to play big roles with Baron and Boone being potential all-conference performers.
Louisville will sink or swim with its transfer class — again.
Louisville Offense
After consistently having one of the most pass-heavy offenses in college football at Purdue, things changed for Jeff Brohm in his first season back at Louisville. The Cardinals leaned run-heavy and put together a very efficient offense.
Scoring: 30.7 (No. 44 overall)
Points Per Drive: 2.53 (No. 41 overall)
Yards Per Play: 6.18 (No. 40 overall)
Yards Per Rush: 4.69 (No. 38 overall)
Yards Per Pass: 8.1 (No. 33 overall)
Snaps Per Game: 68.8 (No. 66 overall)
Run Play Percentage: 53.7% (No. 43 overall)
20+ yard plays: 68 (No. 35 overall)
Red Zone TD Percentage: 59.62% (No. 78 overall)
Louisville wasn’t awesome at any one specific thing but Brohm had a well-rounded offense that finished the season ranked No. 25 in success rate (44.8%). The Cards had a 3,000-yard passer, two 800-plus-yard tailbacks, and a 800-plus-yard receiver. All of those players must be replaced.
Transfers will fill the starting lineup for Brohm in 2024.
To replace Jack Plummer, Louisville went into the portal and quickly scooped up Tyler Shough (6-5, 225, Super). The former Oregon and Texas Tech quarterback has thrown for 4,625 yards with 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions but has never played more than seven games in a season. A broken collarbone ended Shough’s seasons early in 2021 and 2022. A broken fibula knocked the quarterback out of the lineup in 2023. Shough has been a quality rusher (944 non-sack rushing yards on 5.4 yards per rush with 10 touchdowns) but Louisville has said the plan is not to run Shough to keep him healthy. The season rides on the health of the transfer with former four-star recruit Pierce Clarkson (6-1, 195, RFr.) looking like the top backup option.
At tailback, Louisville has two replace two draft picks who accounted for 25 total touchdowns last season. Miami transfer Donald Chaney (5-11, 220, RJr.) brings 852 career rushing yards on 4.9 yards per rush to the offense. Maurice Turner (5-10, 190, Jr.) returns after rushing for 598 yards during his first two seasons on offense. The Cardinals lost some serious star power at tailback and could see run-game regression. Losing MAC offensive player of the year Peny Boone to a double-dip transfer was notable.
The plan seems clear that Brohm would like to have an offense that is more pass-heavy in 2024. Louisville went into the transfer portal to help Shough upgrade the passing game.
South Alabama transfer Caullin Lacy (5-10, 190, Super) was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2023 after recording 91 receptions for 1,316 yards. Lacy should give Brohm a highly productive slot receiver. Alabama transfer Ja’Corey Brooks (6-3, 195, Sr.) emerged as one of Bryce Young’s top options in 2022 with 39 receptions for 674 yards and eight touchdowns before injuries limited Brooks in 2023. The former five-star recruit will be asked to play a big role this season. San Diego State transfer Mark Redman (6-5, 255, RSr.) is now at his third school after beginning his career at Washington and brings 60 career receptions to the offense. Many believe that Redman is an NFL talent and he will be joined Miami transfer Jaleel Skinner (6-5, 225, RSo.) and Kentucky transfer Izayah Cummings (6-4, 235, Super). Louisville will spend a fair amount of time in 12 personnel.
Louisville also has some returnees who will be asked to play bigger roles. There is some positive buzz with Chris Bell (6-2, 220, Jr.) after the Mississippi native recorded 26 receptions for 386 yards last season.
Former Tennessee transfer Jimmy Calloway (6-0, 190, RSr.) is also back after notching 20 receptions for 242 yards but has been limited during fall camp. Former Cincinnati transfer Jadon Thompson (6-2, 190, Super) also returns. Louisville has some clear depth at wideout but needs the transfers to deliver immediately so this passing game can elevate.
While there are some unknowns at the skill talent positions, Louisville enters the season with one of the best offensive lines in the ACC. Renato Brown (6-4, 315, Super) and Michael Gonzalez (6-4, 305, Sr.) are multi-year starters at guard. Northern Illinois transfer Pete Nygra (6-4, 300, RJr.) steps in at center after starting 23 games in the MAC. Texas Tech transfer Monroe Mills (6-7, 315, RSr.) and Yale transfer Jonathan Mendoza (6-9, 310, Super) seemingly locked up the tackle spots in the spring. Georgia Southern transfer Rasheed Miller (6-7, 310, RSr.) will also factor at tackle. Returnee Austin Collins (6-3, 295, RSr.) started seven games at guard last season and gives the line some interior depth. Brohm believes that the offensive line will be a strength of this football team.
There is much riding on Tyler Shough and Louisville could find itself in trouble if the super senior misses games due to injury, but a good infrastructure appears to be in place. An experienced offensive line and quality depth at wide receiver should mean good things for this offense. I’m not sure how high the ceiling will be for this group but the pieces create a high floor and what should be another well-rounded offense.
Louisville Defense
When you think of a Jeff Brohm football team you don’t necessarily think of defense first but Louisville has quietly been fairly good on defense each of the last two seasons once this program leaned into transfer portal roster-building. The program could field its best defense since the Charlie Strong era in 2024.
The Cards have some high-end star power at defensive end and cornerback and have done a good job supplementing their stars. That gives Ron English’s 4-2-5 unit a high ceiling in 2024 after a good debut season last fall.
Scoring: 21.3 (No. 35 overall)
Points Per Drive: 1.85 (No. 29 overall)
Yards Per Play: 5.32 (No. 47 overall)
Yards Per Rush: 3.33 (No. 16 overall)
Yards Per Pass: 7.3 (No. 69 overall)
Tackles For Loss Per Game: 6.14 (No. 37 overall)
Passes Defended Per Game: 4.43 (No. 57 overall)
20+ Yard Plays: 63 (No. 101 overall)
Red Zone TD Percentage: 55.88% (No. 42 overall)
Takeaways: 20 (No. 40 overall)
Louisville was leaky in the big play department but well-rounded everywhere else. With six players returning who played 400-plus snaps last season, there is a good core to build around, and not a ton of transfer help was needed but a handful of first-year transfers will contribute.
The strength of the defense is in the front end.
Ashton Gillotte (6-3, 275, Sr.) was a first-team All-ACC selection at defensive end after recording 45 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 58 pressures. Gillotte is the best player on this football team and a true building block on the line of scrimmage. Louisville is a pressure-heavy scheme and relies on a variety of movement. Gillotte gives English quite a weapon.
Dezmond Tell (6-1, 295, Super) and Ramon Puryear (6-3, 275, Super) return after playing 350-plus snaps last season. Harvard transfer Thor Griffith (6-2, 320, RSr.) and FIU transfer Jordan Guerad (6-2, 295, Sr.) were added to potentially fill starting roles. Louisville lost Jermayne Lole (Texas) and Jeffrey Clark (Arizona) but still has solid depth inside. At the defense hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker spot, three spring transfers were added. California transfer Myles Jernigan (6-2, 235, Super), Middle Tennessee transfer Richard Kinley (6-3, 235, Super), and South Florida transfer Tramel Logan (6-4, 250, Super) are competing for snaps.
Louisville has a ton of players entering their final season of eligibility on the defensive front and is hoping all that experience pays off in a big way this fall.
At the second level, TJ Quinn (6-1, 230, RJr.) led the team in tackles (87) and returns in the middle. Texas A&M transfer Jurriente Davis (6-0, 230, Super) is a likely starter after playing only two games for the Aggies last fall. Davis is now on his fourth school. Stanquan Clark (6-3, 230, So.) is a talented young player who should get a lot of action. Benjamin Perry (6-3, 205, RJr.) is back at Louisville’s hybrid nickel/sam spot after recording 56 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 13 starts last season.
In the secondary, Quincy Riley (6-0, 195, Super) is back for year three at Louisville after recording 14 pass breakups and six interceptions over the last two seasons. The former Middle Tennessee transfer has 13 career interceptions and will be one of the top cornerbacks in college football this season. PFF credits Riley with only giving up a 36.5 percent catch rate on 63 targets in 2023. Riley’s man coverage success rate is key for Louisville’s scheme.
At the other cornerback spot, UCF transfer Corey Thornton (6-1, 195, Super) comes to Louisville with 38 career starts and nearly 2,500 defensive snaps played. Thornton brings four interceptions and 28 pass breakups. The cornerback allowed less than 10 yards per reception in the Big 12 last season. Illinois transfer Tahveon Nicholson (5-11, 185, RSr.) was a two-year starter at Illinois who recorded 12 pass breakups and one interception over the last two seasons. Both transfers were asked to play a high volume of man coverage at their previous schools. Louisville will put their cornerbacks on islands and ask them to win in isolation.
At safety, M.J. Griffin (6-1, 200, Super) returns from injury after starting eight games for Louisville in 2022 recording 45 tackles and two interceptions. Former Baylor transfer Devin Neal (6-0, 210, Super) returns after recording 67 tackles and four interceptions. Tennessee transfer Tamarion McDonald (6-2, 195, Super) gives the safety group some additional depth and defensive versatility after spending some time at nickel in the SEC.
Louisville might have the oldest defense in college football. The Cardinals will have at least 15 players entering their final season of eligibility set to play big roles. There is star power with Gillotte and Riley plus good depth on paper. The defense is positioned to be a strength of the team and might be able to elevate from top-30 good to top-15 good this fall.
Louisville Outlook
Through work in the transfer portal and talent retention, Jeff Brohm has built one of the oldest rosters in college football. The Cardinals have legitimate depth across the board and some clear star power on defense. This feels like an all-in year — again.
Louisville has loaded up on one-year transfers and is shooting to make another run at an ACC title. Tyler Shough’s injury history is a big wild card for this football team as the quarterback depth is very, very unproven and the run game likely loses some pop. The Cards will likely be more pass-heavy needing wide receiver transfers to deliver but the defense should create a high floor for this football team.
The close game record will likely decrease but this looks like a better overall football team in 2024.
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