University of Louisville football coach Jeff Brohm is entering his second season at his alma mater.
In both of his initial seasons, the Cardinals’ roster featured 41 newcomers, largely drawn from the transfer portal. However, high school recruiting remains a priority for Brohm, and the Cardinals are building another recruiting class.
In his first recruiting cycle after being hired, Brohm brought in 16 true freshmen, while the next class included 14 true freshmen.
The Class of 2025 is anticipated to be smaller than usual, with the Cardinals currently holding 13 commitments and not expected to add many more.
Despite the smaller class size, the FlyVille 25 group boasts considerable talent, including four-star edge rusher C.J. May from Highland Home, Alabama. The Cardinals have also secured a commitment from quarterback Mason Mims from Oxford, Alabama. Overall, U of L has commitments from prospects across seven different states, featuring three from Kentucky, three from Ohio, and two from Kentucky.
The members of the Class of 2025 have now begun their high school seasons. Here’s an overview of how the commitments are performing, though some players may not have available stats. Cardinal Authority will provide weekly updates on the progress of these commitments on the field throughout the season, aiming to keep a continuous record of their performances in high school games. For more information and updates on Louisville football, check out these links: Louisville’s 2025 commitments | Louisville’s Transfer Portal page | Our free newsletter for breaking news | Our message board where our staff shares the latest insights on the Cardinals.
Jordan Allen, WR, Buford, Ga.
The only wide receiver commitment in the Class of 2025 is standout Jordan Allen from Buford, Georgia. Standing at 5-foot-8 and weighing 170 pounds, this three-star athlete chose to commit to Louisville despite receiving numerous scholarship offers from schools such as Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Clemson, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Mississippi State, NC State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, UCF, USF, and Utah, among others. Allen, who also excels at returning punts, received several accolades following his junior season. He was named an All-Region wide receiver and won the Cecil Morris Award, which recognizes an All-County caliber athlete who faced injuries during the season. Allen dealt with a labrum injury that kept him out for 2-3 weeks, requiring a brace for the rest of the season. He recorded 35 receptions for 588 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to returning 21 punts for 168 yards. “Coach Brohm and Coach McGee appreciate my playing style,” Allen shared with Cardinal Authority after his commitment. “They think I can make a significant impact in their offense as a slot receiver. “I believe that too.
Week one -Allen had three catches for 27 yards, but Buford lost 13-10 to Milton.
Week two – He caught seven passes for 127 yards and one touchdown in a tight 29-28 win over Benedictine.
Week three- Buford had a bye week, during which Allen visited U of L for the Austin Peay game.
Week four – In a 52-17 victory over Roswell, Allen recorded two catches for 33 yards and had one carry for five yards.
Week five- He had five receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown in a 31-13 win against Douglas County, while being observed by U of L wide receivers coach Garrick McGee.
Week six – Allen caught a 55-yard touchdown pass as Buford triumphed 46-0 over Discovery.
Week seven – Buford did not have a game this week.
Gradey Anthony, OL, Goshen, Ky.
One of three in-state recruits, Gradey Anthony, an offensive lineman from North Oldham High School, joined the class in late January. Last fall, Anthony played on both offense and defense for a 7-5 North Oldham team, but he is expected to play as an interior offensive lineman in college. He boasts a wingspan of 79 inches and has visited U of L multiple times, attending several games last season. During his junior year, Anthony anchored an offensive line that helped the Mustangs achieve 890 rushing yards and 2,565 passing yards. On defense, as a tackle, he recorded 33 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery.
Week one – Anthony contributed to an offense that gained 270 yards in an 18-11 victory over Fern Creek.
Week two- He aided the Mustangs in rushing for 251 yards in a 54-23 win against DeSales.
Week three- The Mustangs totaled 545 yards of offense in a 54-12 rout of Tates Creek.
Week four – North Oldham faced its first loss of the season, losing 23-14 to South Oldham.
Week five – Following the previous week’s defeat, the Mustangs bounced back with a 47-0 victory over Shelby County, achieving 244 total yards.
Week six – North Oldham secured a 10-0 win against Henry County.
Jaylin Brown, RB, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Jaylin Brown, a standout running back from Cardinal Newman in West Palm Beach, Fla., is the only running back commitment in the class. Brown pledged his commitment to the Cardinals in June, turning down offers from several schools including Appalachian State, Boston College, Charlotte, Connecticut, Georgia Tech, James Madison, Kentucky, Liberty, Minnesota, NC State, Tulane, Western Michigan, and others. As a junior, Brown earned All-County recognition by rushing for over 900 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns at Cardinal Newman. Over his three seasons, he has accumulated more than 1,700 rushing yards. The three-star prospect has impressive speed, logging a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash, and has recently qualified for the Florida state championships with a time of 10.88 in the 100-meter dash.
Week one – Brown rushed 13 times for 145 yards and one touchdown in a 45-7 victory over Monsignor Pace.
Week two – He recorded 12 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-21 win against Carrollwood Day.
Week three – Brown ran 17 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-20 triumph over Benjamin.
Week four – He had 13 carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns in a 43-8 win over Pahokee.
Week five – Brown carried the ball four times for 36 yards and one touchdown in a 48-0 victory against Clewiston. Week six – Cardinal Newman did not have a game this week
Tyrone Burrus, DE, Indianapolis
defensive edge rusher from Indianapolis Warren Central, is among three edge rushers committed to the program and is the second-highest-ranked player in his class. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 225 pounds, Burrus visited Louisville during the first full weekend of June. He also made trips to Indiana and Illinois before choosing the Cardinals over those two programs. “I believe Coach Brohm and Coach Hagen will help develop me for the next level,” Burrus said. “Aside from the family-like atmosphere, Louisville is cultivating a winning culture, and that’s something I definitely want to be part of.” During his junior season, Burrus recorded 34 tackles (15 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups, earning him All-State recognition from the Indiana Football Coaches Association. He was also named All-County in both his sophomore and junior years.
Week one- Burrus made four tackles, including one for a loss, in a 15-0 victory over Fort Wayne Snider.
Week two – He recorded three tackles in a 34-0 win against Warsaw.
Week three – Burrus had eight tackles, three tackles for loss, and three sacks in a 30-0 win over North Central. Week four- He tallied four tackles in a 35-0 victory against Lawrence Central.
Week five – Burrus recorded three tackles, one for a loss, and deflected a pass in a thrilling 24-21 double-overtime win over Ben Davis.
Week six – He finished with six tackles, including two for loss, one sack, and a pass deflection in an 18-7 win over Pike.
Antonio Harris, Ath, Louisville
Antonio Harris, a legacy recruit from Male High School in Louisville, committed to the Cardinals in early June. While he has played various positions in high school, including quarterback this season, he is expected to play in the secondary at U of L. Harris chose the Cardinals over scholarship offers from Ball State, Buffalo, East Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Marshall, Miami of Ohio, Purdue, and Western Kentucky. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds, Harris is the son of former U of L linebacker Nate Harris and the nephew of former U of L running back Doug Beaumont. As a long-time target for U of L, he was one of the first underclassmen approached by the new coaching staff. U of L coaches, including running backs coach and Male High alum Chris Barclay, frequently visited his school during the recruitment process. Typically not targeted by opposing offenses, Harris recorded 15 tackles and two interceptions as a junior. Additionally, he was second on the team with 25 receptions for 620 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Week one – Harris rushed three times for 89 yards and one touchdown during a 47-0 victory over Butler.
Week two – Harris carried the ball eight times for 68 yards and two touchdowns, completed 2-of-3 passes for 45 yards, and made one catch for five yards in a 49-21 victory against Ballard.
Week three – He rushed five times for 68 yards and one touchdown, caught three passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and also threw for a two-point conversion in a thrilling 35-34 overtime win over St. Xavier.
Week four – Male had a bye week. Up to this point, Harris has accumulated 225 rushing yards and four touchdowns, along with four receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Week five – In a 24-21 loss to Trinity, Harris recorded three catches for 89 yards and one touchdown, while also completing his only pass attempt for one yard.
Week six – Harris contributed to Male’s 42-21 victory over Pleasure Ridge Park.
Eric Hazzard, Edge, Franklin, Tenn.
One of the three edge rushers in this recruiting class, Eric Hazzard from Page High School in Franklin, TN, is the only commitment from the state for this class. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound three-star recruit committed to Louisville shortly after his official visit with the Cardinals. “I believe they see me as a top player at Louisville and someone who can make a significant impact in the ACC,” Hazzard shared. “They’ve mentioned that I’m quite underrated in terms of star ratings, and they believe I have what it takes to compete at a high level.” Hazzard received over a dozen scholarship offers, including from Memphis, Western Kentucky, UAB, Charlotte, and Middle Tennessee State, among others. During his junior year, Hazzard was a semifinalist for Mr. Football in Division I, Class 5-A, recording 70 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and seven pass deflections.
Week one – Hazzard made three tackles in a 28-0 victory against Giles County in the season opener.
Week two – He had two fumble recoveries, contributing to Page’s 31-0 win over Independence.
Week three – Hazzard recorded one tackle in a 14-0 victory against Franklin.
Week four – He tallied five tackles in a 42-0 win over LaVergne, where U of L defensive line coach Mark Hagen was present.
Week five – Hazzard had four tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one reception on offense that resulted in a 42-yard touchdown during a 42-0 win against Coffee County Central.
Week six – Hazzard helped Page achieve a 6-0 record with a resounding 62-0 victory over Glencliff.
Grant Houser, TE, Wapakoneta, Ohio
The only tight end commitment in this recruiting class is standout Grant Houser from Wapakoneta, Ohio. This 6-foot-5, 230-pound three-star prospect chose the Cardinals over offers from schools like Air Force, Arkansas State, Army, Central Michigan, Connecticut, Cornell, Eastern Michigan, Miami of Ohio, Navy, Toledo, and more. Houser’s choice was solidified during his official visit. “I know I made the right choice, and I’m really happy about it. Being back on campus and reconnecting with everyone was fantastic. It was also great to be there with other committed players and help recruit more talent.”
Week one – Wapakoneta won against St. John’s Jesuit, 35-21. No stats were recorded for Houser.
Week two – He caught six passes for 47 yards and scored one touchdown in a 34-9 victory over Defiance.
Week three – Houser rushed for a touchdown as Wapakoneta triumphed over Ottawa-Glandorf, 42-14.
Week four – In a 28-14 win against Memorial, Houser registered eight catches for 80 yards, bringing his season total to two touchdowns.
Week five – Wapakoneta remained undefeated at 5-0 with a 35-14 victory over Van Wert.
Week six – The team, along with Houser, maintained their perfect record at 6-0 after a 28-0 win over Shawnee.
Josh Johnson, S, Ironton, Ohio
One of three commitments from Ohio is safety Josh Johnson from Ironton. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 190 pounds, Johnson chose the Cardinals over finalists Penn State and Iowa. He also received offers from schools like Appalachian State, Boston College, Indiana, Marshall, Michigan State, Tennessee, UNLV, West Virginia, and others. His official visit to Louisville was more impactful than he had expected. “I really enjoyed my time there,” Johnson told Cardinal Authority. “I loved meeting new people, exploring, and building relationships. It exceeded my expectations.” The hard-hitting Johnson noted that the Louisville coaching staff conveyed he would have an early opportunity to play with the Cardinals. Last season, he recorded four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, along with 68 tackles.
Week one – Ironton defeated Wheelersburg 38-7; Johnson did not participate.
Week two – Ironton won against Jackson 51-14; Johnson did not play.
Week three – Ironton triumphed over Cabell-Midland 63-7; Johnson was not in the lineup.
Week four – Ironton beat St. Francis 56-19; Johnson sat out due to a minor injury but is anticipated to return soon. Week five – Johnson made his return, contributing five tackles and a 12-yard kickoff return in a 56-19 win over St. Francis.
Week six – He recorded seven tackles in a close 28-27 loss to Clarkson North.
Caleb Matelau, LB, Bradenton, Fla.
Linebacker Caleb Matelau, one of two players from Florida in this recruiting class, is currently playing his senior year at Manatee High School in Bradenton, Florida. Measuring 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 215 pounds, Matelau pledged his commitment to Louisville after an official visit in June. During his junior year at Palmetto High, Matelau recorded 96 tackles, with six tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one pass deflection, and one blocked punt. In his sophomore season, he made 92 tackles, totaling 252 tackles over 29 career games. “The coaches appreciate my downhill running style,” Matelau shared. “They’ve mentioned that off the field I’m a nice guy, but on the field, I bring the intensity.”
Week one – Matelau made four tackles and had one pass breakup in a 57-19 victory against Lake Minneola.
Week two – He recorded four tackles and one tackle for a loss in a 43-0 win over Southeast.
Week three- Matelau had eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, in a 30-15 loss to Lowndes from Valdosta, Georgia.
Week four- He played a role in guiding Manatee to a 34-27 win over Buchholz.
Week five- Manatee triumphed against IMG Academy White with a score of 44-7.
Week six- Manatee defeated Pinellas Park 34-10.
CJ MAY, EDGE, HIGHLAND HOME, ALA.
CJ May, an edge rusher from Highland Home, Alabama, is the newest and highest-ranked recruit in the University of Louisville’s class. The Cardinals secured the commitment of the 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect from the class of 2025, beating out Auburn, Syracuse, and Washington. According to 247Sports, May is ranked No. 146 overall. During his junior season, May played 12 games and accumulated 54 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, six pass breakups, and an interception returned for a touchdown, as reported by MaxPreps. Offensively, he caught two passes for 66 yards and one touchdown.
Week one- May recorded four tackles and two quarterback hurries in Highland Home’s 38-9 victory over Straughn. Week two – He achieved two sacks during a shutout as Highland Home won 24-0 against Charles Henderson.
Week three – May led his team to a 54-0 win over Barbour County and followed up with a visit to U of L.
Week four – Highland Home remained undefeated with a 63-0 win over Zion Chapel, where May had two tackles for a loss and returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown.
Week five- He registered two tackles in a 43-21 victory over Goshen.
Week six- In a dominant 56-6 win over Brantley, May had seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one blocked extra point, and one quarterback hurry.
Mason Mims, QB, Oxford, Ala.
Mason Mims, a quarterback from Oxford, Alabama, is Louisville’s first recruit in the class of 2025. He chose to commit to the Cardinals over offers from schools like Pittsburgh, Mississippi State, and West Virginia, among others. When he announced his decision, Mims highlighted the opportunity to learn from UofL head coach Jeff Brohm and offensive coordinator Brian Brohm as a key factor. “I know that playing at Louisville under those two will help me become a better quarterback,” Mims said. “They have extensive experience in football and have developed many talented quarterbacks. They were both good quarterbacks themselves and will help me improve.” As a junior, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Mims completed 205 of 288 passes for 2,670 yards, throwing 29 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He currently has an 88 rating from 247Sports, indicating a strong potential as a multi-year starter at the Power Four level with the ability to progress to the NFL.
Week one – Mims threw for 487 yards and three touchdowns on 29 of 35 passing in Oxford’s 56-46 victory over Central.
Week two- He completed 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown, leading Oxford to a 24-21 win against Moody.
Week three – Mims finished 14 of 21 for 224 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-21 win over Shades Valley.
Week four – He went 11 of 18 passing for 196 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-7 victory against Pinson Valley. Week five – Mims completed 30 of 43 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns as Oxford came from behind to win 29-28 over Mountain Brook.
Week six- He had 12 completions on 19 attempts for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-10 win against Helena.
MICAH RICE, S, NORTH OLDHAM
In June, Cincinnati Moeller’s strong safety Micah Rice made his commitment. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 185 pounds, Rice holds 22 scholarship offers, with Minnesota and Arizona also competing for his commitment. He took official visits to both schools, and his decision came down to the last moment. “Coach English believes I can bring versatility to their defense,” Rice explained earlier. “He mentioned that he sees me playing both safety positions and potentially cross-training for the nickel role. I really like Coach English and his vision for my use on the team.” During his junior season, Rice recorded 54 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven pass break-ups, and three interceptions.
Week one*- Rice made a couple of tackles, including a sack, in Moeller’s 38-21 victory over Princeton.
Week two – He contributed to Moeller’s 42-18 win against Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger.
Week three – Rice did not participate, but Moeller won 42-13 over East Central. **Week four** – He sat out as Moeller fell to Mallard Creek 21-14 in overtime.
Week five – Rice did not play, but Moeller secured a 45-37 victory against Cincinnati St. Xavier. (Note: Rice announced his transfer to North Oldham High School.)
Week six – He did not play in a 10-0 win over Henry County.
DILLON SMITH, DL, UNION, KY.
One of three in-state commitments, Dillon Smith, a defensive lineman from Ryle High School, committed to Louisville in early April. After making multiple visits to the campus, he solidified his commitment just days following an unofficial visit that month. At 6 feet 4 inches and 250 pounds, Smith primarily plays as an edge rusher at Ryle but will transition to an interior defensive lineman in college. He has the potential to add more weight, and during U of L’s camp last summer, he clocked a 4.88-second 40-yard dash. In his junior year, Smith recorded 56 total tackles, eight sacks, three interceptions, and one touchdown. This week, he earned a three-star rating with an 86 score in his initial ranking by 247Sports, placing him as the No. 11 player in the state and the No. 103 defensive lineman nationally.
Week one – Smith made three tackles, including one for safety, in Ryle’s 30-14 victory over Covington Catholic.
Week two – He contributed one tackle in a 46-8 win against Conner.
Week three- Smith registered five tackles, two for a loss and two sacks, during Ryle’s 21-14 loss to Cooper.
Week four – He had three tackles, including one for a loss, as Ryle defeated Fort Thomas Highlands 34-28 in overtime.
Week five – Ryle bounced back for a 28-24 win against Christian Academy.
Week six – Ryle did not play this week, holding a record of 4-1.
Leave a Reply