Who's In, Who's Out and Who's Back for Louisville Football in 2024

Taking a look at the roster turnover between the 2023 and 2024 seasons for the Cardinals.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ever since the 2023 season ended for the Louisville football program, it has been a whirlwind of roster upheaval. Between players declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, transfers coming in and out, as well as new recruits joining the fold, at times it has been hard to track which scholarship players are joining, leaving and staying for another year.

Now the dust is beginning to settle a bit, and we are starting to have some idea as to what Louisville's roster will look like for the 2024 season. The Cardinals are currently at 90 scholarship players - five over the NCAA allotted maximum of 85.

As we progress through 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 2024 season:

*Each player's class is noted by their 2024 class.*

*This list will be updated if/when additional roster moves are made. Last updated: January 25, 2024 - 8:15 p.m. EST*

Quarterbacks

Who's In (2): Deuce Adams (Fr.), Tyler Shough (Gr., Transfer - Texas Tech)
Who's Out (2): Brock Domann (Graduation), Jack Plummer (Graduation)
Who's Back (2): Brady Allen (R-So.), Pierce Clarkson (So.)
On Roster: 4

Summary: With Jack Plummer's college career now over, the battle for next season's starting quarterback spot is going to be an intense one. Shough is obviously the heavy favorite to land the job based on talent and experience, but Allen and Clarkson had a year to develop behind Plummer, and could be ready to make the jump. Plus, Adams is a talented freshman and Harrison Bailey is a quality PWO.

Running Backs

Who's In (4): Peny Boone (Sr., Transfer - Toledo) Isaac Brown (Fr.), Donald Chaney Jr. (R-Jr., Transfer - Miami), Duke Watson (Fr.)
Who's Out (2): Isaac Guerendo (NFL Draft), Jawhar Jordan (NFL Draft)
Who's Back (2): Maurice Turner (Jr.), Keyjuan Brown (So.)
On Roster: 6

Summary: Just as we all predicted, running back was the strength of the offense this past season, and the position will still have a lot of options at their disposal in 2024. Boone was an absolute monster at Toledo last season, taking hom MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Plus, Turner has shown to be a capable back when on the field, Chaney brings a lot of veteran experience, and the three younger guys all have plenty of talent. 

Wide Receivers

Who's In (5): Shaun Boykins Jr. (Fr.), Ja'Corey Brooks (R-Jr., Transfer - Alabama), Caullin Lacy (Sr., Transfer - South Alabama), Antonio Meeks (Jr., Transfer - Tuskegee), Joseph Stone Jr. (Fr.)
Who's Out (4): Kevin Coleman Jr. (Transfer - Mississippi State), William Fowles (Transfer - Appalachian State), Ahmari Huggins-Bruce (Transfer - South Carolina), Jamari Thrash (NFL Draft)
Who's Back (5): Jadon Thompson (Sr.), Jimmy Calloway (R-Jr.), Chris Bell (Jr.), Cataurus Hicks (So.), Jahlil McClain (So.)
On Roster: 10

Summary: Even with the amount of newcomers the position saw last offseason, the passing game was just average for most of the season, as the only wide receiver with any sort of consistency was Thrash. Hopefully with the additions of impacts transfers like Brooks, Lacy and Meeks, along with the hope that some of the returners can take needed steps forward, the passing game can improve in 2024.

Tight Ends

Who's In (4): Izayah Cummings (R-Sr., Transfer - Kentucky), Dylan Mesman (Fr.), Mark Redman (R-Sr., Transfer - San Diego State), Jaleel Skinner (R-So., Transfer - Miami)
Who's Out (1): Joey Gatewood (Graduation)
Who's Back (3): Duane Martin (Sr.), Nate Kurisky (Jr.), Jamari Johnson (So.)
On Roster: 7

Summary: The tight end spot is getting a major upgrade. Following a 2023 where the position was almost a non-factor in the passing game, Redman will be an instant difference maker here, Cummings can be used in a variety of ways, and Skinner has a very high ceiling. Not to mention that Kurisky played his best football towards the end of the season, and Johnson still has an extremely high ceiling.

Offensive Line

Who's In (9): Victor Cutler (Gr., Transfer - Ohio State), Fred Johnson (Fr.), Ransom McDermott (Fr.), Jonathan Mendoza (Gr., Transfer - Yale), Rasheed Miller (R-Sr., Transfer - Georgia Southern), Monroe Mills (Gr., Transfer - Texas Tech), Pete Nygra (R-Jr., NIU Transfer), Reuben Unije (6th, Transfer - Houston), Jimmy Williams III (Fr.)
Who's Out (7): Joshua Black (Transfer - TBD), John Paul Flores (Transfer - TBD), Bryan Hudson (Graduation), Eric Miller (Graduation), Izaiah Reed (Transfer - Memphis), Willie Tyler (NFL Draft), Vincent Lumia (Transfer - TBD), 
Who's Back (10): Lance Robinson (Gr.), Renato Brown (R-Sr.), Michael Gonzalez (Sr.), Austin Collins (R-Jr.), Trevonte Sylvester (R-Jr.), Makhete Gueye (R-So.), Sam Secrest (R-So.), Luke Burgess (So.), Joe Crocker (So.), Madden Sanker (So.)

On Roster: 19

Summary: The offensive line will look a very different in 2024. Three starters in Hudson, Miller and Tyler are all moving on, but Louisville does retain a pair of starters at the guard spots in Gonzalez and Brown. Throw in guys like Mendoza, Mills, Nygra, Unije and Miller, Louisville has several options for the other three spots on the line, and the room as a whole has good depth at all positions.

Interior Defensive Line

Who's In (2): Thor Griffith (Gr., Harvard Transfer), Jordan Guerad (R-Jr., Transfer - FIU)
Who's Out (1): Jeffery Clark (Transfer - Arizona State)
Who's Back (8): Jermayne Lole (Gr.) Ramon Puryear (R-Sr.), Dezmond Tell (Sr.), Jared Dawson (R-Jr.), Selah Brown (Jr.), Tawfiq Thomas (Jr.), Saadiq Clements (So.), William Spencer (So.)
On Roster: 10

Summary: The defensive line is shaping up to be the strength of the entire defense, and the interior will be a big reason. Louisville scored a massive recruiting win in landing Griffith, Puryear, Tell, Lole and Dawson all performed well, plus Guerad also brings production to the table.

Defensive End

Who's In (3): Tyler Baron (5th, Transfer - Tennessee), Maurice Davis (Fr.), Xavier Porter (Fr.)
Who's Out (6): Victoine Brown (Transfer - Georgia State), Ryheem Craig (Transfer - East Carolina), Stephen Herron (Graduation), Rodney McGraw (Transfer - TBD), Popeye Williams (Transfer - Western Michigan), Kameron Wilson (Transfer - Cincinnati)
Who's Back (5): Ashton Gillotte (Sr.), Mason Reiger (Sr.), R.J. Sorenson (R-Jr.), Micah Carter (So.), Adonijah Green (So.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: Louisville heads into next season with one of the best one-two edge rusher punches in the ACC. Gillotte garnered All-American honors for his monstrous seaosn, and Baron brings over a ton of SEC experience. Additionally, Reiger was second on the team in sacks despite missing four games, and Green has a high ceiling due to his talent. The production outside of their two deep might be a bit of a question, but UofL certainly has high impact playmakers on the edge.

Linebackers

Who's In (2): Trent Carter (Fr.), Jurriente Davis (5th, Transfer - Texas A&M)
Who's Out (3): Keith Brown (Transfer - Washington State), Gilbert Frierson (NFL Draft), Jackson Hamilton (Transfer - Georgia Tech)
Who's Back (6): Jaylin Alderman (Sr.), Benjamin Perry (R-Jr.), T.J. Quinn (R-Jr.), Antonio Watts (Jr.), Stanquan Clark (So.) T.J. Capers (So.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: The linebacker corps entered the 2023 season being viewed as the weak spot, but the position wound up playing very will. Quinn led the team in tackles, Alderman had a good bounce-back season, Perry was an X-Factor at STAR, Clark showed flashes of brilliance as a true freshman and Watts made a handful of plays. The position will only get better with a fully healthy Capers, who was a former five-star prospect.

Cornerbacks

Who's In (4): Tayon Holloway (R-So., Transfer - North Carolina), Rae'mon Mosby (Fr.), Tahveon Nicholson (R-Sr., Transfer - Illinois), Corey Thornton (Sr., Transfer - UCF)
Who's Out (4): Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (NFL Draft), Storm Duck (NFL Draft), Derrick Edwards III (Transfer - Charlotte), Marquis Groves-Killebrew (Transfer - TBD)
Who's Back (4): Quincy Riley (R-Sr.), Trey Franklin (R-Sr.), Marcus Washington Jr. (R-So.), Aaron Williams (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: Cornerback is a spot with a some turnover, but looks to be a strong unit next season. Retaining Riley is a massive boost for the defense as a whole, Thornton was incredibly productive at UCF, and Nicholson is coming off of his best season at Illinois. Guys like UNC's Holloway and returner Franklin give the position some quality depth as well.

Safeties

Who's In (5): Jathan Hatch (Fr.), Daeh McCullough (R-Fr., Transfer - Oklahoma), Tamarion McDonald (Sr., Transfer - Tennessee), Blake Ruffin (R-Jr., Transfer - Eastern Illinois), Wesley Walker (R-Sr., Transfer - Tennessee)
Who's Out (2): Cam'Ron Kelly (NFL Draft), Josh Minkins Jr. (Transfer - West Virginia)
Who's Back (3): M.J. Griffin (R-Sr.), Devin Neal (Sr.), D'Angelo Hutchinson (Jr.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: While cornerback has some questions, safety for Louisville should have a very good two-deep. Neal earned All-ACC honors after he had to step up due to injuries, and Griffin - who played a major role in the defense's turnaround in 2022 - will be back and fully healthy. Add in two starting safeties in the SEC in McDonald and Walker, Ruffin as an FCS All-American, along with Hutchinson who has made strides, the Cardinals should be able to continuously rotate on the back end and keep bodies fresh. Plus, Perry and Watts give the position some extra versatility.

Special Teams

Who's In (0): N/A
Who's Out (0): N/A
Who's Back (2): PK Brock Travelstead (Sr.), LS, Shai Kochav (R-Jr.)
On Roster: 2

Summary: With walk-on kicker Nick Lopez entering the portal, Travelstead will absolutely have to take a step forward in terms of his consistency as a placekicker. As far as punting goes, Louisville is in good shape, as walk-on Brady Hodges had a good season and should only get better.

(Photo of L&N Stadium via University of Louisville Athletics)

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