Louisville Football Inks 16 on National Signing Day

Mark BlankenbakerFebruary 6, 2019

A total of 12 student-athletes have signed with the University of Louisville on Wednesday, Feb. 6, the second day of the national signing period.

Today’s additions raise the number of 2019 Louisville signees to 16, including the four who signed in December during the NCAA’s first early-signing period for college football.

First-year head coach Scott Satterfield, who was hired on Dec. 4, was able to ink nine high school players, two graduate transfers and one junior-college transfer.

Wednesday’s crop of signees include five offensive linemen, four linebackers, two running backs and tight ends, and one cornerback, defensive end and quarterback. Eight states were represented, with six coming from Georgia and four signing from Florida. Arizona, Arkansas, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi and West Virginia also had one signee apiece.

The Cardinals signed four players during the December signing period: quarterback Evan Conley, linebacker Dorian Jones, running back Aidan Robbins, and offensive lineman Zach Williamson. Conley, Robbins and Williamson enrolled in January and will be eligible to compete in spring practice, which begins on Monday afternoon.

Four-star defensive end Ja’Darien Boykin is the highest rated player in the class, ranking No. 158 in the latest ESPN 300 rankings. A product of Gray, Ga., finished his career with 208 tackles and 32.0 sacks.

With only eight scholarships offensive linemen on the roster, the Cardinals added five in this class. Graduate transfer T.J. McCoy, who played at Florida, is an immediate fix this season. The Clermont, Fla., native played in 13 games over the last two seasons with the Gators.

Renato Brown, a 6-foot-4, 330-pounder, is a three-star prospect, who can play both guard and tackle. Joshua Black, Jackson Gregory, and early signee Zach Williamson were the other additions upfront.

Tight end, with only one scholarship player on the roster, added depth with the signing of graduate transfer Ean Pfeifer and Dez Melton. Pfeifer played on the offensive line at Vanderbilt, but will make the move, while Melton is a three-star athlete, who played both wide receiver and tight end at Deer Valley High School.

The Cardinals added two running backs in Jalen Mitchell from Southwest Brevard, Fla., and Louisville native Aidan Robbins.

Three linebackers were added during this signing period, with junior-college performer Monty Montgomery headlining the group. The Hutchinson Community College product was named the Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the team with 82 tackles. Starkville, Miss., native Zach Edwards and Loganville, Ga., product Allen Smith are two talented youngsters who could make an impact.

Jamel Starks, a 5-10, 180-pound athlete, is a talented player who will work at cornerback for the Cardinals.

Louisville returns 57 letterwinners, including 19 starters (seven offense, 10 defense, 2 specialists), from last season. The Cardinals will open spring practice on Monday.

JA’DARIEN BOYKIN

6-0, 242, DE

Gray, Ga.

Jones County

Played for Justin Rogers at Jones County High … highest rated prospect in the signing class … stands at No. 158 on ESPN’s Top 300 list … ranked a four-star prospect by 247 Sports … tabbed the No. 318 player in the entire nation … rated the No. 19 wide defensive end and the No. 33 student-athlete in Ga … ranked the No. 9 defensive end by USA Today … rated a three-star defensive end by Rivals.com … ranked as the No. 60 defensive end and the No. 85 player in the state …finished his scholastic career with 208 tackles, 32.0 sacks and five caused fumbles … tallied eight career touchdowns … totaled 82 tackles at defensive end during his senior season … finished senior season with 52 tackles and 13.0 sacks … forced three fumbles … recorded 32 tackles for loss and 18.0 sacks as a junior … selected to play in the Elite All-Star game … named first team all-state as a senior … selected the Ortho Defensive Lineman of the Week after accounting for 14 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks in a win over Eagles Landing … totaled 74 tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss as a sophomore … received offers from Louisville, North Carolina, Arizona State, Miami (Fla.), Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Washington State and Colorado State … son of Shenika Collins.

JOSHUA BLACK

6-2, 270, OL

Stone Mountain, Ga.

Stephenson

Played for Ron Gartrell at Stephenson High … rated a three-star prospect by 247 Sports … earned first team all-state … tabbed to the Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State Football squad … early commitment to Georgia Tech … earned all-county and all-region accolades … four-year starter … served as one of the team’s captains … played offensive tackle and offensive guard on the offensive line … played defensive tackle and defensive end … received offers from Louisville, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Florida Atlantic … son of Chantal and Jayson Black.

RENATO BROWN

6-3, 310 OL

West Palm Peach, Fla.

West Palm Beach Central

Played for Santino Ierulli at West Palm Beach Central High … originally committed to Miami … can play both offensive guard and tackle … three-star prospect by 247 Sports and Rivals.com … rated as one of the Super 11 players by the Palm Beach Post … ranked as the No. 78 prospect in the Sunshine State and the No. 38 offensive guard nationally by 247Sports … rated the No. 63 offensive linemen by Rivals … totaled 23 tackles and two sacks on the defensive side of the football … guided team to an 11-2 record, losing 21-6 to Deerfield Beach in the Class 8A regional final … an All-County first-team pick during both his junior and senior seasons … recorded 33 pancake blocks, 42 total tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss as a junior … also recorded 3.0 sacks and an interception … played both offensive and defensive line at West Palm Beach CentralHigh … received offers from Louisville, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Marshall, Miami, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Southern Miss, South Florida, Virginia … son of Rena Brown.

EVAN CONLEY

6-2, 200, QB

Marietta, Ga. / Kell

Played for Brett Sloan at Kell High … enrolled at Louisville in January … threw for more than 7,000 career yards during his four seasons as a starter … began his scholastic career at Pope High, where he completed 63 percent of his throws for 2,240 yards and 22 touchdowns … elected the Overall Pope Football Player of the Year … rated among the nation’s top 100 pro-style quarterback prospects by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite ratings … ranked the No. 193 player in Georgia … named the 7-AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year … named to the GSWA all-state team as a junior … named 5A all-state honorable mention by the Georgia Sports Writers Association … helped team score over 30 points in nine of 12 games … garnered all-region honors … guided Kell to a 9-3 record with a run into the state playoffs before being knocked out by traditional power Buford … completed 22-40 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns versus Region 7-5A regional champion and GHSA 5A state champion Rome High … was 21-32 passing for 306 yards and two touchdowns against Paulding County High … completed 35-49 passes for 471 yards and five touchdowns versus Hiram … passed for 2,276 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore … also ran for 917 yards and 19 scores … averaged 319.3 total yards per game … earned first-team 6A All-Region 7 honors … son of Ron and Julie Conley.

ZACH EDWARDS

6-3, 230, ILB

Starkville, Miss.

Starkville

Standout defensive player for Chris Jones at Starkville High … played both linebacker and rush defensive end … rated a three-year starter … voted a defensive captain in his junior and senior seasons … three-star linebacker by 247 Sports … tabbed a three-star prospect by Rivals.com … rated the No. 31 inside backer nationally and the No. 18 player in the state … originally committed to LSU … two-time all-state honoree … ranked the No. 31 inside linebacker and the No. 20 player in Mississippi … named to the first team all-USA Mississippi football team … led Starkville to a runner-up finish to Pearl in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A State championship game … registered 79 tackles and 9.0 sacks as a senior … credited with 26.0 tackles for loss … was a first-team All-State section in Class 6-A as a senior … named to the Mississippi All-State team by USA Today … assisted in helping Team Mississippi beat Team Alabama by collecting four total tackles … collected 62 tackles for a loss, 20 sacks and a total of 204 tackles over his last two seasons … also recorded seven caused fumbles and four recovered fumbles … led Starkville with 125 tackles, 36 for a loss, and 11 sacks as a junior … received offers from Louisville, Texas A&M, Mississippi, Mississippi State, LSU, Southern Mississippi, Marshall and Memphis … son of GeeGee and Ralph Edwards.

JACKSON GREGORY

6-2, 271, OL

Westlake, Ohio

Westlake

Played for Jason Hall at Westlake High … ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … rated as the No. 30 center and the No. 81 player in the state of Ohio … was a four-year starter … started both ways, serving as center on offense and played at defensive end … contributed as the team’s long snapper … two-time all-conference performer … named a team captain during his senior season … totaled 24 career sacks … son of Lisa and Tim Gregory.

DORIAN JONES

6-0, 235, ILB

Plantation, Fla. / American Heritage

Played for Patrick Surtain at American Heritage High … three-start prospect by 247Sports … rated the No. 36 inside linebacker and the No. 116 player in Florida … named the Sentinel’s Broward County Class 5A-1A defensive player of the year … helped lead Palm Beach County’s Oxbridge Academy to the Class 3A state title game … ended his career with 234 tackles, 39.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks … finished his senior year with an eye-popping 122 tackles, including 29 tackles for loss … also credited with nine sacks and an interception … posted double-digit tackles in eight of his 11 games … had 15 tackles – a season high – and four for loss in an early-season victory against St. Joseph Regional (N.J.) … racked up 13 tackles, including six for loss, and a season-best five sacks in a win over Miami Jackson … received offers from Indiana, Marshall, Kansas State, FIU, Buffalo and Florida A&M … son of Robin Jones.

T.J. MCCOY

6-1, 305, OL

Clermont, Fla.

Florida

Graduate transfer from Florida … Played in four games (Charleston Southern, Colorado State, Florida State, Michigan) as a reserved offensive lineman at Florida … started Florida’s first nine games at center before suffering a season-ending injury at South Carolina in 2017… appeared in seven games throughout the season and made four starts in 2016 … made his UF debut against Kentucky in the second week of the season … came off the bench to play center in Florida’s game against South Carolina … played three-plus quarters at center for the Gators against the Gamecocks, and then started the final four contests of the season… played on both the offensive and defensive line for coach Mark Woolum at South Lake High … saw action at center as a senior, after previously playing both guard and tackle … helped lead his team to an 8-3 record and the first round of the Florida 6A state championship … played in the Central Florida All-Star Game … son Jodie and former Florida Gators defensive tackle Tony McCoy, who played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts (1992-1999) and Arizona Cardinals (2000)… was ranked No. 89 offensive guard nationally by scout.com.

DEZ MELTON

6-3, 220, TE

Glendale, Ariz.

Deer Valley

Played for Dan Friedman Deer Valley High … played at the varsity level for four seasons … served one season as captain … played both wide receiver and running back … rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and 247 Sports ranked as the No. 147 tight end nationally and the No. 33 player in Arizona … played in eight games as a senior … carried the ball 146 times for 976 yards – 6.7 yards a carry – and eight touchdowns … caught 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns … rushed for over 100 yards five times, including 242 yards and two touchdowns against Thunderbird … carried 236 times for 1,701 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior … also caught eight passes for 148 yards and one touchdown … received offers from Louisville, Arizona, Arizona State, Nebraska and Iowa State … son of Veronica Garcia and Shaun Melton.

JALEN MITCHELL

5-10, 215, RB

Southwest Brevard County, Fla.

Rockledge

Played for Wayne Younger at Rockledge High School … three-star prospect by Rivals and 24 Sports … rated as the No. 73 running back by Rivals and the No. 174 in the state of Florida … rushed for 2,346 yards and 26 touchdowns … averaged 6.8 yards per carry throughout his career … caught 22 passes for 223 yards out of the backfield … totaled 27 career touchdowns … ranked as the No. 74 running back by 247 Sports … totaled six 100-yard rushing games during his career … ran for 2rushed for 1,407 yards and 18 touchdowns … averaged 8.3 yards per carry for Rockledge … was named second team all-Space Coast Conference … lost in the regional semifinals to finish 10-2 on the season … totaled 939 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior … received offers from Colorado State, Kentucky, Purdue, Central Florida, USF, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

MONTY MONTGOMERY

5-11, 214, ILB

Norcross, Ga.

Hutchinson CC

Played for Rion Rhoades at Hutchinson Community College … named the 2018 Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year … was also named the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week three different times and was the NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Week twice … helped the Blue Dragons post a 9-3 overall record and a No. 8 finis147 player h in the final NJCAA Football Rankings … had a tremendous freshman season for a Blue Dragon defense that ranked in the top two of three of the four major defensive categories in the Jayhawk Conference and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in rush defense … led the Blue Dragons with 82 total tackles, including 45 unassisted tackles … totaled 18 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries returned for a touchdown … credited with five quarterback hurries in 2018 … became the first Blue Dragon player in three years to earn NJCAA first-team All-America honors … recorded three defensive touchdowns, including two in one game against Dodge City … was part of a fourth defensive touchdown when he had an interception and lateraled to Kelvin Clemmons in a win at then No. 5 Independence .. credited with a career-high 3.0 sacks versus Coffeyville … totaled a personal-best nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in a season-opening win over Ellsworth Communiuty College … tied a Hutchinson single-game record with 24 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss versus Garden City Community College … added 10 stops in a 54-16 victory over Iowa Central Community College … led Gwinnett County with 155 tackles at Norcross High, including 27 for losses, in 2016 … signed with Tulane out of high school before transferring to Hutchinson … was a four-year letterman for Keith Maloof at Norcross High School in Norcross, Ga.…rated the No. 180 safety in the nation, No. 249 player in Florida and Rivals.com as an inside linebacker…registered 139 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one blocked punt and one safety as a senior…tallied 88 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a touchdown during his junior season …son of Izetta Gadsen.

EAN PFEIFER

6-4, 245, TE

Bentonville, Ark.

Vanderbilt

Played two seasons at Vanderbilt before leaving as a graduate transfer … played in 19 career games …. played in eight games, contributing at offensive guard and on special team conversion units in 2017… earned starts at left guard in early-season victories over Middle Tennessee, Alabama A&M and Kansas State and kept the assignment for the next two games… injuries limited his participation late in the season … took over for Delando Crooks at left guard early in the season and never relinquished his position during the 2016 campaign… appeared in 11 games in 2016 … showed improvement with each game, playing most of the team’s critical snaps over the last nine games… played a huge role in running Ralph Webb becoming the team’s all-time leading rusher and sophomore Kyle Shurmur producing one of the finest seasons ever by a Commodore quarterback… earned Freshman All-SEC honors from Athlon Sports… helped the line improve in nearly every stat category from 2015, including points scored, first downs, total yards and red-zone efficiency where the unit produced points on 43 of 46 possessions inside the 20-yard line … senior captain at Bentonville High… three-year offensive line starter, helping Bentonville to 32-5 overall record and consecutive 7A state titles in 2013 and 2014… named first-team 7A All-State OL and All-Region as senior, posting 50 knockdown blocks and helping Tigers overcome 0-4 start with nine-game win streak to conclude season…received Willie Roaf Award as Arkansas’ top high school offensive lineman from Little Rock Touchdown Club as a senior… also earned all-state, all-region honors as junior … son of Tom Pfeifer and Carla Burns… has five siblings: brothers Stefan and Garrett; sisters Elise, Erika and Jaclyn.

AIDAN ROBBINS, RB

6-3, 225

Louisville, Ky. / Manual

Played for Scott Carmony at Manual High … enrolled at Louisville in January … rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports … rated the No. 42 running back and the No. 12 recruit in Kentucky … rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com … also ranked as the No. 15 player in the state … named three-star prospect by ESPN.com … tabbed the No. 50 player as an athlete and the No. 9 recruit in Kentucky … ran 72 times for 537 yards and four touchdowns before his season ended with a torn labrum in his right shoulder … scored the game-winning touchdown in a 21-20 win over Ballard … rushed 13 times for 165 yards and two scores in a win over Western … ran for 812 yards and six touchdowns as a junior … rushed 72 times for 370 yards and three touchdowns and also had a receiving touchdown during his sophomore season … received offers from Kentucky, Purdue, Ole Miss, Missouri, and South Carolina … son of Ron and Twylia Robbins.

ALLEN SMITH

6-2, 220, OLB

Loganville, Ga.

Grayson

Rated a three-star prospect by 247 Sports … slated the No 70 outside linebacker and the No. 106 player in Georgia … originally committed to North Carolina … suffered a season-ending injury after the fifth game of the season during his senior year … totaled 22 tackles in those five contests … received offers from Louisville, Penn State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Oregon and Florida Atlantic … son of Tiffany Williams and Allen Smith, Sr.

JAMEL STARKS

5-10,180, CB

Decautur, Ga.

Southwest Dekalb

Four-year starter at Southwest Dekalb High where he played for Damien Himes … led team to a 10-1 record as a senior … ranked as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports and the No. 47 athlete in the nation … rated a three-star by Rivals.com … rated the No. 57 athlete nationally and the No. 89 player in the state of Georgia … three-time captain … tabbed to the Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State Football 5A squad … named the Defensive Player of the Year in Dekalb County … three-time all-region honoree … two-time all-state selection … named first team all-county … received offers from Louisville, Nebraska, NC State and West Virginia … son of Sharron Starks and Ray and Tanya Starks,

ZACH WILLIAMSON

6-6, 298, OL

Lavalette, W.Va. / Spring Valley HS

Played for Brad Dingess at Spring Valley High … enrolled at Louisville in January … rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports … rated as the No. 77 offensive tackle and the No. 4 recruit in West Virginia … slated as the No. 915 player in the national rankings … tabbed a three-star performer and the No. 87 offensive tackle by Rivals.com … rated as the No. 49 offensive tackle by ESPN.com and the No. 3 prospect in West Virginia … guided his team to state runner-up finishes in 2016-18 … 2018 AAA All-State selection by West Virginia Sports Writers Association as a senior … named an AAA All-State honorable mention as a junior … received offers from Kentucky, Penn State, West Virginia, Vanderbilt, Marshall, Wake Forest, Duke and Pittsburgh … son of Angie and Kevin Williamson