Louisville Football Class of 2026 Commitments

Our database for all the Cardinals' commitments in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

A football lies on the turf of L&N Stadium during Louisville's spring game. | Jared Anderson - Louisville Report

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With two recruiting cycles in the books for the Louisville football program under head coach Jeff Brohm, the Cardinals are now heading into their first true full high school recruiting cycle with the Class of 2026.

This post will be updated when Louisville lands a commitment, and class ranks will be updated periodically. Bookmark this page for future reference.

Class Rankings (Updated Dec. 4, 2025)

• 247Sports Class Rank: 8th in the ACC, 40th nationally
• On3/Rivals Class Rank: 8th in the ACC, 43rd nationally

Committed Recruits (20):

Fort Thomas (Ky.) Highlands) offensive lineman Max Merz | via Instagram

Max Merz

Position: Offensive Lineman
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 310 pounds
School: Fort Thomas (Ky.) Highlands
Top Offers: Kent State, Marshall, Toledo, Troy
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8522 (1,851st)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: September 5, 2024

Aurora (Ind.) South Dearborn linebacker Brady Ballart | via Prep RedZone

Brady Ballart

Position: Inside Linebacker/Running Back
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 213 pounds
School: Aurora (Ind.) South Dearborn
Top Offers: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Oh.), Toledo
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8611 (1,446th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: September 8, 2024

Chiefland (Fla.) HS edge rusher Jon Adams | C.J. Gish via Main Street Daily News

Jon Adams

Position: Edge Rusher
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 216 pounds
School: Chiefland (Fla.) HS
Top Offers: FIU, Tulane
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8533 (1,818th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: November 27, 2024

Crestwood (Ky.) South Oldham defensive lineman Sam Dawson | Twitter/X

Sam Dawson

Position: Defensive Line
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 290 pounds
School: Crestwood (Ky.) South Oldham
Top Offers: Eastern Kentucky
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8644 (1,308th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: January 16, 2025

Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School quarterback Briggs Cherry | Instagram

Briggs Cherry

Position: Quarterback
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 215 pounds
School: Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School
Top Offers: App State, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Pitt, Syracuse
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8983 (371st)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: January 28, 2025

West Boca Raton (Fla.) HS cornerback Jaydin Broadnax | via Twitter/X

Jaydin Broadnax

Position: Cornerback
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
School: Boca Raton (Fla.) West Boca Raton
Top Offers: Florida, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.9104 (268th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Mar. 7, 2025

Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier wide receiver/running back Marlon Harbin | via University of Louisville Athletics

Marlon Harbin

Position: Wide Receiver/Running Back/Cornerback
Measurables: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds
School: Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier
Top Offers: Kentucky, Miami (Oh.), Toledo, UT Martin, Toledo
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8700 (1,051st)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Mar. 10, 2025

Hoban wide receiver Payton Cook, right, runs during the first half, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK

Payton Cook

Position: Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds
School: Akron (Oh.) Archbishop Hoban
Top Offers: Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Pitt, Tennessee
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8889 (474th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Mar. 27, 2025

Rolesville (N.C.) HS wide receiver Gavin Waddell | Prep RedZone

Gavin Waddell

Position: Wide Receiver
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
School: Rolesville (N.C.) HS
Top Offers: App State, Coastal Carolina, Miami, Maryland, UConn
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8678 (1,151st)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Apr. 3, 2025

Campbellsville (Ky.) Taylor County offensive lineman Bryten Close | University of Louisville Athletics

Bryten Close

Position: Offensive/Defensive Tackle
Measurables: 6-foot-6, 285 pounds
School: Campbellsville (Ky.) Taylor County
Top Offers: East Carolina, Liberty, Ohio, UMass, Western Kentucky
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8678 (1,151st)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Apr. 19, 2025

Jackson (Tenn.) University School Running Back Lekhy Thompkins | via Instagram

Lekhy Thompkins

Position: Running Back
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 227 pounds
School: Jackson (Tenn.) University School
Top Offers: Colorado, Maryland, Miami, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8767 (768th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: May 23, 2025

Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood cornerback Kris Brunson | Twitter/X

Kris Brunson

Position: Cornerback
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds
School: Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood
Top Offers: Miami, Mississippi State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8644 (1,308th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: June 15, 2025

Chattenooga (Tenn.) Baylor School offensive tackle and Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm | Twitter/X

Charlie Edgeworth

Position: Offensive Tackle
Measurables: 6-foot-7, 325 pounds
School: Chattanooga (Ten.) Baylor School
Top Offers: Florida, Kentucky, Purdue, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8711 (1,002nd)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: June 16, 2025

Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood wide receiver/cornerback D.J. Williams and Louisville wide receiver coach Deion Branch | University of Louisville Athletics

D.J. Williams

Position: Wide Receiver/Safety
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds
School: Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day
Top Offers: Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8711 (1,002nd)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: June 20, 2025

Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman offensive lineman Jarvis Strickland | University of Louisville Athletics

Jarvis Strickland

Position: Offensive Tackle
Measurables: 6-foot-6, 294 pounds
School: Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman
Top Offers: Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Michgan, Ole Miss, Tennessee
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8916 (445th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: July 4, 2025

Freeport (Fla.) HS tight end Julius Miles | University of Louisville Athletics

Julius Miles

Position: Tight End
Measurables: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds
School: Freeport (Fla.) HS
Top Offers: Colorado, Florida State, Michigan State, Syracuse, Pitt
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.9020 (335th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: July 5, 2025

Springfield (Oh.) HS linebacker/safety Taj Powell | Twitter/X

Taj Powell

Position: Outside Linebacker/Safety
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds
School: Springfield (Oh.) HS
Top Offers: Buffalo, Kentucky, Miami of Ohio, Toledo, West Virginia
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8711 (1,002nd)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Sept. 25, 2025

Middletown (Oh.) HS safety Jordan Vann | Twitter/X

Jordan Vann

Position: Safety
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds
School: Middletown (Oh.) HS
Top Offers: Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, Virginia, Wisconsin
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8722 (965th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Dec. 1, 2025

Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes offensive lineman Benjamin Corhei | University of Louisville Athletics

Benjamin Corhei

Position: Offensive Tackle
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 285 pounds
School: Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes
Top Offers: Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami, Pitt
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8633 (1,385th)
Highlights and Evaluation: Click Here
Commitment Date: Dec. 3, 2025

Decommitted Recruits (11):

• Offensive Tackle Joel Ervin (Mar. 24, 2025)
• Wide Receiver/Safety Emoni Smith (Apr. 27, 2025)
• Defensive Tackle Jamarcus Whyce (June 10, 2025)
• Defensive End Kevontay Hugan (June 11, 2025)
• Running Back Evan Hampton (July 14, 2025)
• Tight End Nick Lautar (Nov. 17, 2025)
• Safety Jayden McGregory (Nov. 19, 2025)
• Linebacker Karsten Busch (Nov. 24, 2025)
• Cornerback Devonte Anderson (Nov. 30, 2025)
• Defensive Tackle Josiah Hope (Dec. 3, 2025)
• Offensive Lineman Krew Moledor (Dec. 4, 2025)

(Photo via Jared Anderson - Louisville Cardinals On SI)

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