Northern Illinois Transfer OL Pete Nygra Commits to Louisville

Nygra was one of the best centers in the MAC this past season.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Make that back-to-back days with back-to-back transfer portal commitments for the Louisville football program.

Pete Nygra, an offensive lineman who spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Northern Illinois, announced Saturday that he has committed to the Cardinals.

He's the fourth portal commitment for Louisville over the last two days. Former Alabama wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks and former UCF cornerback Corey Thornton both committed on Friday night, while former FIU defensive tackle Jordan Guerad did so earlier today.

A two-year starter for NIU, Nygra was one of the best centers in the MAC this past season. Starting all 12 games for the Huskies, he did not allow a single sack, while giving up only two quarterback hits and 6 hurries in 382 pass block snaps and 772 blocking snaps overall. He finished as the second-highest rated center in the MAC according to Pro Football Focus, with his 73.7 grade trailing only Western Michigan's Jacob Gideon.

The Indianapolis, Ind. native saw minimal reps during his true freshman campaign, but was elevated to starter in 2022. In 26 career appearances and 23 starts, Nygra has allowed only 13 total pressures and zero sacks in 710 career pass blocking snaps and 1,533 total blocking snaps.

This a big pickup for Louisville, as Nygra fills a massive area of need for Louisville. Between graduation and the transfer portal, the Cardinals are already in line to lose seven offensive linemen from the current roster, including three starters and starting center Bryan Hudson.

Nygra is the ninth player to transfer to Louisville in this cycle, and the fourth lineman following Guerad, defensive tackle Thor Griffith and offensive tackle Jonathan Mendoza. The Cardinals have also seen nine scholarship players enter the portal since the winter transfer window opened on Dec. 4.

He is expected to sign on Dec. 20 for the first day of the early signing period. Louisville went 10-2 during the regular season with a berth in the ACC Championship Game under first year head coach Jeff Brohm, and are preparing for their Holiday Bowl matchup with USC on Dec. 27.

(Photo of Pete Nygra via NIU Athletics)

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