Who's In, Who's Out and Who's Back for Louisville Football in 2021

Taking a look at the roster turnover between the 2020 and 2021 seasons for the Cardinals

(Photo of Malik Cunningham: Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ever since the 2020 season ended for the Louisville football program, it has been a whirlwind of roster upheaval. Between players declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft, transfers coming in and out, as well as new recruits joining, at times it has been hard to track which scholarship players are joining, leaving and staying for another year.

Now that the dust has settled a bit, we have some idea as to what Louisville's roster will look like for the 2021 season. As Jul. 13, the Cardinals have 81 players on scholarship, well short of the NCAA allotted maximum of 85.

As we progress through the beginning of another long college football offseason, take a look below on who's in, who's out, and who's back for the Cardinals for the 2021 season:

*Due to extra season provided by NCAA, each player's class is noted by their 2020 class (Fr., So., etc.), with the exception of incoming high school seniors.*

*This list will be updated if/when additional roster moves are made*

Quarterbacks

Who's In (2): Brock Domann (So., Transfer - Independence C.C.), TJ Lewis (Fr.)
Who's Out (2): Jawon Pass (Transfer - Prairie View A&M), Tee Webb (Transfer - Southern Miss.)
Who's Back (2): Malik Cunningham (R-Jr.), Evan Conley (So.)

Summary: Arguably the most thin position on the entire roster for Louisville. Despite a down 2020, Cunningham should retain his starting job for next season barring even more setbacks

On Roster: 4

Running Backs

Who's In (1): Trevion Cooley (Fr.)
Who's Out (1): Javian Hawkins (NFL)
Who's Back (4): Maurice Burkley (R-Sr.), Hassan Hall (Jr.), Jalen Mitchell (R-Fr.), Aidan Robbins (R-Fr.)

Summary: Louisville's top offensive threat might be leaving for the NFL, but there is a solid level of talent still left in the running back room. Expect the Cards to go with running back by committee next season, at least in the first half.

On Roster: 5

Wide Receivers

Who's In (3): Shai Werts (R-Sr., Transfer - Georgia Southern), Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Fr.), Demetrius Cannon (Fr.)
Who's Out (6): Roscoe Johnson (Not Returning), Dez Fitzpatrick (NFL), Tutu Atwell (NFL), Corey Reed (Transfer - Jackson State), Christian Fitzpatrick (Transfer - Michigan State), Nick Malito (Transfer - TBD)
Who's Back (5): Justin Marshall (R-Jr.), Josh Johnson (R-Jr.), Braden Smith (So.), Tyler Harrell (R-So.), Jordan Watkins (Fr.)

Summary: With Louisville's No. 1 & 2 receiving threats heading to the league, the Cards should have a very different passing attack next season. Huggins-Bruce and Smith bring a lot of speed to the table, as does Werts, who is converting to WR after a long career as a QB at Georgia Southern.

On Roster: 8

Tight Ends

Who's In (2): Vic Mullen (Fr.), Christian Pedersen (Fr.)
Who's Out (2): Ean Pfeifer (Not Returning), Tobias Little (Transfer - Missouri State)
Who's Back (4): Marshon Ford (R-So.), Dez Melton (R-Fr.), Duane Martin (Fr.), Desmond Daniels (Fr.)

Summary: Pfeifer denied the opportunity for an ultra-rare seventh year, but Louisville's top tight end in Ford is back. Overall, a fairly deep TE room, and also will see help from walk-on Isaac Martin.

On Roster: 6

Offensive Line

Who's In (3): Bryan Hudson (So., Transfer - Virginia Tech), Aaron Gunn (Fr.), Michael Gonzalez (Fr.)
Who's Out (4): Cam DeGeorge (Not Returning), Robbie Bell (Not Returning), Zach Williamson (Transfer - TBD), Jackson Gregory (Transfer - Stony Brook)
Who's Back (10): Cole Bentley (Sr.), Caleb Chandler (R-Jr.), Adonis Boone (Jr.), Trevor Reid (Jr.), Josh Black (R-Fr.), Renato Brown (R-Fr.), Austin Collins (Fr.), Tim Lawson (Fr.), Kobe Baynes (Fr.), Luke Kandra (Fr.)

Summary: Louisville returns four of their starting five offensive linemen from last season, as well as plenty of solid backup options. Easily their deepest position group on the roster.

On Roster: 13

Defensive Line

Who's In (6): Jacques Turner (Gr., Transfer- Southern Miss), Caleb Banks (Fr.), Victoine Brown (Fr.), Ryheem Craig (Fr.), Ashton Gilotte (Fr.), RJ Sorensen (Fr.)
Who's Out (1): Jared Goldwire (NFL)
Who's Back (10): Tabarius Peterson (R-Sr.), Derek Dorsey (R-Sr.), Malik Clark (R-Jr.), Yaya Diaby (Jr.), Dayna Kinnaird (R-Jr.), Zach Edwards (R-Fr.), JaDarien Boykin (Fr.), Henry Bryant (Fr.), Jared Dawson (Fr.), Dezmond Tell (Fr.)

Summary: Only three players here (Peterson, Clark, Kinnaird) are ones that HC Scott Satterfield & DC Bryan Brown did not recruit. A young, but relatively deep position.

On Roster: 16

Inside Linebackers

Who's In (1): Jaylin Alderman (Fr.)
Who's Out (2): Dorian Etheridge (NFL), Robert Hicks (Transfer - UT Martin)
Who's Back (4): CJ Avery (Sr.), Monty Montgomery (R-Jr.), KJ Cloyd (So.), Dorian Jones (R-Fr.)

Summary: Not a ton of depth here, but retaining CJ Avery for another year was a huge boost for the program. Monty Montgomery elevating to starter should give the defense a boost.

On Roster: 5

Outside Linebackers

Who's In (1): Jackson Hamilton (Fr.)
Who's Out (2): Rodjay Burns (NFL), Thurman Geathers (Transfer - Arkansas State)
Who's Back (7): Nick Okeke (R-Jr.), Jack Fagot (R-Jr.), Yasir Abdullah (Jr.), Marvin Dallas (Jr.), Allen Smith (R-Fr.), Kam Wilson (Fr.), Zay Peterson (Fr.)

Summary: Losing Rodjay Burns and Thurman Geathers hurts in terms of talent and depth, but Yasir Abdullah and Nick Okeke are good starters for next season. 

On Roster: 8

Secondary

Who's In (9): Qwynnterrio Cole (Sr., Transfer - Alcorn State), Kenderick Duncan Jr. (R-Jr., Transfer - Georgia Southern), Trey Franklin (So., Transfer - Iowa Western C.C.), Rance Conner (Fr.), Derrick Edwards III (Fr.), Benjamin Perry (Fr.), TJ Quinn (Fr.), Bralyn Oliver (Fr.), Kani Walker (Fr.)
Who's Out (9): Isaiah Hayes (NFL), Marlon Character (NFL), Russ Yeast (Transfer - Kansas State), Anthony Johnson (Transfer - Virginia), Telly Plummer (Transfer - UT Chattanooga), Trenell Troutman (Transfer - TBD), Lovie Jenkins (Transfer - TBD), Marqui Lowery (Transfer - Michigan State), Jamel Starks (Transfer - Houston)
Who's Back (4): Chandler Jones (Jr.), Kei'Trel Clark (So.), Josh Minkins (Fr.), Greedy Vance (Fr.)

Summary: Without a doubt, the most roster turnover happened in the secondary. Fortunately, Kei'Trel Clark is back for his second year in Louisville, along with several elite prospects.

On Roster: 13

Special Teams

Who's In (0): None
Who's Out (0): None
Who's Back (3): Mitch Hall (Sr.), Brock Travelstead (Fr.), James Turner (So.)

Summary: Long snapper Mitch Hall is back, so are kickers James Turner and Brock Travelstead. Walk-on punters Logan Lupo and Ryan Harwell entered the transfer portal, but they did add walk-on Mark Vassett.

On Roster: 3

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