BREAKING: Five-Star Donovan Jackson Shocks SEC  ,NCAA With Unexpected Commitment to the Louisville Cardinals football over Tennessee Vols, Arizona and Flip to Cardinals….

 

 

 

LOUISVILLE, KY – The Louisville Cardinals football program has made headlines once again as they announced the commitment of highly-touted four-star recruit, Malik Johnson, to their 2024 class. Johnson, a standout wide receiver from Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia, officially pledged his allegiance to the Cardinals during a live ceremony streamed on social media.

 

 

 

 

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver showcased his exceptional skills throughout his high school career, recording over 1,200 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior season alone. Known for his impressive speed and agility, Johnson’s ability to stretch the field makes him a valuable addition to the Cardinals’ offense.

 

Head Coach Jeff Brohm expressed his excitement about the commitment. “Malik is a dynamic athlete with a tremendous upside. His versatility and playmaking ability will be a great asset to our team. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Louisville family and excited about what he can bring to our program.”

 

 

 

Johnson chose Louisville over several top-tier programs, including SEC powerhouses, highlighting the Cardinals’ growing reputation as a competitive force in college football. He cited the coaching staff, the team’s culture, and the vibrant city of Louisville as significant factors in his decision.

 

As the Cardinals prepare for the upcoming season, the addition of Johnson aims to strengthen an already talented receiving corps, which will be crucial as the team seeks to build on last season’s success. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Johnson will fit into the offensive scheme and contribute to the team’s aspirations.

 

 

The Cardinals are hoping this commitment is just one of many in a strong recruiting class that will further elevate their standing in the ACC. With Johnson on board, the future looks bright for Louisville football as they continue to build towards a championship-caliber program.

 

**Stay tuned for more updates as the Louisville Cardinals football team prepares for the 2024 season!**

Like every other college football program at the Division I level, Louisville has certainly been impacted by the transfer portal this offseason.

 

Over a week into the month of January, the Cardinals have had 19 scholarship players enter the portal since the end of the 2024 regular season, ranging from potential starters to strictly role players.

 

 

Related: Louisville Football 2024-25 Transfer Tracker

 

While, in theory, there could still be more players that decide to depart the program, Louisville is starting to have some semblance as to who they will actually have returning for the 2025 season. Their winter transfer portal window closed on Jan. 5, and the soft deadline to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft was this past Monday.

 

On the other side of that coin, head coach Jeff Brohm and his coaching staff has done an amazing job at bringing in talent via the portal. So far, 19 transfers have committed to Louisville, and many of them have the potential to be high-impact playmakers from day one.

 

As of Jan. 8, the Cardinals are currently at a 78-man scholarship roster – seven below the traditional 85-man limit. Although, as part of the House vs. NCAA settlement, the scholarship limit in football has been lifted to 105.

 

As you can imagine, roster movement both in and out ahead of the 2025 season is far from over. There will be another window from April 16 to April 30 following spring practices in which players can enter the transfer portal without penalty, on top of the plethora of uncommitted players still in the portal.

 

Related: Who’s In, Who’s Out and Who’s Back for Louisville Football in 2025

 

The staff is certainly still recruiting out of the high school ranks, but most of Louisville’s future additions for the 2025 roster are very likely going to be D1 transfers.

 

What type of players should Louisville look for in the portal? Here are their three biggest current roster needs:

 

Cornerback

This is Louisville’s biggest remaining need on the roster, and it’s not particularly close.

 

For starters, four of the five top corners on the roster are moving on. Quincy Riley, Corey Thornton and Tahveon Nicholson are all out of eligibility, while Aaron Williams transferred to UCLA. As for the future of the fifth one, Tayon Holloway, his future at Louisville is very much up in the air given his yet-to-be resolved assault case.

 

Just two corners are guaranteed to return, Rae’mon Mosby and Jathan Hatch, but both are heading into their redshirt freshmen seasons. Add in incoming freshman Antonio Harris, there are just three corners on the roster with significant collegiate playing time – and even they have questions to an extent.

 

While Justin Agu (Louisiana), Rodney Johnson Jr. (Southern) and Jabari Mack (Jacksonville State) have been productive in their careers up to this point, all three will be having to make the jump from either the Group of Five or FCS to the ACC. At the very minimum, Louisville needs to add at least two more impact corners to feel good at this spot.