Houston Transfer OL Reuben Unije Commits to Louisville

The right tackle started 11 games for the Cougars last season.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Yet another impactful transfer on the offensive line will be joining the Louisville football program.

Reuben Unije, a right tackle who spent the last four years of his collegiate career at Houston, announced Saturday that he has committed to play his final season of eligibility with the Cardinals.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle started 11 games this past season for the Cougars, only missing their season-finale against UCF. In 439 pass-blocking snaps and 679 blocking snaps overall, all coming at right tackle, Unije allowed only five sacks, three quarterback hits and 22 pressures.

The Bradenton, Fla native's first year year in college was spent with Coahoma (Miss.) Junior College in 2019, then transferred to Houston ahead of the 2020 season. During his time as a Cougar, Unije allowed only eight sacks and 49 total pressures in 850 pass blocking snaps and 1,378 blocking snaps overall across 28 games and 21 starts.

Unije's commitment - as well as Louisville's other portal pickups on the offensive line - 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.

Fortunately, he's the fifth offensive lineman following Yale tackle Jonathan Mendoza, NIU center Pete Nygra, Ohio State tackle Victor Cutler and Texas Tech tackle Monroe Mills. The Cardinals have now landed 18 transfer commitments, while also seeing 17 scholarship players of their own enter the portal during the winter transfer window.

The Cardinals finished their 2023 season with an overall mark of 10-4 (7-1 in ACC) including a berth in the program's first ever ACC Championship Game, but ended year one under head coach Jeff Brohm on a three-game losing streak.

(Photo of Reuben Unije: Maria Lysaker - USA TODAY Sports)

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