How Will Louisville Football Finish The 2017 Recruiting Class? (Version 5)

Chris PersonOctober 26, 2016

Back for another edition, now with a few more commitments and still the same amount of uncertainty going forward! Since the last update Jabreel Stephens, Mitch Hall, and Colin Wilson committed, meaning I was 2/3 in predicting both Stephens and Wilson. Since it is still baseball season, I’ll consider that a respectable percentage.

Going forward we have a few complications.

The staff is being VERY selective for these last few spots.
There is always a chance someone decommits or is encouraged to look elsewhere if someone better comes along.
If somehow late in the cycle you get an opportunity to land a major difference maker, you find a way to take them.

First let’s take a look at the current recruiting board:

Quarterback: Louisville is not expected to lose anyone at the quarterback position and with Malik Cunningham currently committed, the quarterback position is in great hands.

My Prediction: Complete

Running Back: Louisville loses 2 running backs next year, starter Brandon Radcliff and backup Malin Jones. One of the top targets at the position, Colin Wilson, recently made it official with his commitment to Louisville. At this time I think Louisville could add one more back to the class and the two names that definitely stick out are AJ Davis and Damon Williams. Williams has visited Louisville a couple times and has spoken highly of the Cardinals. At this point, it seems that Williams is probably the most likely to take that final running back spot in the 2017 recruiting class, if Coach Petrino chooses to add another. It is my understanding the variable here is if Louisville decides to take a scholarship kicker or not.

My Prediction: Damon Williams

Wide Receiver: Jamari Staples and James Quick will be 2 major losses following the 2016 season. Louisville already has commitments from receivers Josh Johnson, Corey Reed, and Justin Marshall. I think that the Cards COULD add another receiver in the class, although it is not a definite. Two names to keep an eye on here would be Leroy Henley and former South Carolina commit Shawn Smith. Both are scheduled to visit Louisville for the Kentucky game and the staff is very high on both. Also I would keep an eye on JoVonta Payton who recently visited for the NC State game.

My Prediction: Leroy Henley or Shawn Smith

Tight End: With the current commitment of Kemari Averett and Texas A&M transfer Jordan Davis already enrolled and sitting out, it is my understanding the Cards like where they stand at this position.

My Prediction: Complete

Offensive Line: At this time I do not foresee Louisville taking another offensive lineman with Poutasi Poutasi, Joey Palmer, Cole Bentley, and Gerrik Vollmer committed. With that being said, if the right offensive lineman came along I think the staff would take them in a heartbeat. Thayer Munford and Caleb Chandler are two names to keep an eye on here.

My Prediction: Complete

Defensive Line: Louisville loses 1 big contributor following the 2016 year in DT DeAngelo Brown. Louisville has 2 lineman/outside linebackers committed with Malik Davis and Jabreel Stephens. When it comes to uncertainty, this position is at the center of it. There are a lot of targets but no real movement from any one in particular to emerge. Here are the list of names to keep an eye on: Elijah Conliffe, Quinton Bohanna, Lee Autry, Ben Hutch, Tyrone Truesdell, Noah Elliss, Krojhn Calbert and Chrishawn Wilson. Deciphering which one(s) of these have the best chance to commit is difficult. One complication is while the staff is definitely wanting to bring 1 more defensive lineman on, they may add 2 if they are able to get 2 that they really want. Out of these, I would particularly keep an eye on Conliffe, Wilson, Bohanna, and Hutch. Wilson is a brand new name on the list that the staff thinks highly about. I will update his recruitment later but was told Wilson is a “Diamond in the rough” with tremendous upside by his high school coach, Trey Woodberry. He was a basketball player and has only played 10 career football games.

My Prediction: Elijah Conliffe

Linebacker: Possibly 2 of the biggest losses to graduation following the 2016 season will occur at the linebacker position, Devonte Fields and Keith Kelsey. Currently the 2017 class holds commitments from 2 linebackers, Kam Jones and Dorian Etheridge. Along with them, Stephens and Davis can play some OLB similar to the Fields/Hearns roles. Due to this I believe that they are content with what they have at the position.

My Prediction: Complete

Defensive Back: Louisville has a total of 7 defensive backs committed in the 2017 class, 4 CB’s and 3 Safeties. Despite this large number there are two recruits that if you can get them, you find a way to take them: Brian Edwards and CJ Avery. Edwards recently decommitted from Miami and both are scheduled to take an official visit to Louisville for the UK game. From what I have been hearing, I think not only is there a good chance that Louisville can land one of the two, but there is also a good chance Louisville can land both. Another name to watch is Eric Stokes, a speedster out of Georgia whose recruitment has really started to catch fire.

My Prediction: Brian Edwards & CJ Avery

Specialists: Louisville already has a scholarship designated for Longsnapper Mitch Hall, but it has yet to be seen if they want to use another scholarship on a kicker. It seems like regardless Louisville will take a kicker in this class, either scholarship or walk-on, but the staff is still trying to sort through options and how they want to proceed. Two names to keep an eye on are Jakson Wine of North Oldham High School as well as Brenton King of Mill Creek High School (GA), who both visited UofL for the NC State game.

My Prediction: Jakson Wine