Former Alabama WR Ja'Corey Brooks, UCF CB Corey Thornton Commit to Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville football program has been on a tear when it comes to recruiting out of the portal, that momentum continues to swing in their favor.
Ja'Corey Brooks, a wide receiver who spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Alabama, as well as Corey Thornton, a cornerback who spent the first four years of his collegiate career at UCF, both announced Friday night that they have committed to the Cardinals.
Both are coming off of official visits to campus. It’s a reunion for the two, as they were high school teammates at Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington, helping them win the Florida 4A state title in 2019.
Brooks was limited to just three catches for 30 yards in nine games with the Crimson Tide this past season due to a shoulder injury, but has proven himself in the past to be a valuable asset. Last season, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver hauled in 39 receptions for 674 yards and team-best eight touchdowns for the Tide.
As a true freshman in 2021, Brooks caught 15 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-tying 28-yard catch in the final minute of Iron Bowl to help keep Alabama's College Football Playoff hopes alive, and a 44-yard score in the CFP Semifinal vs. Cincinnati. He was a five star prospect coming out of high school, regarded as the No. 27 player in the Class of 2021 according to the 247Sports Composite.
Thornton is coming off of his best coverage season at the college level. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback hauled in three interceptions and logged nine pass breakups, while also finishing with 27 total tackles.
Thornton has been a productive defender in every one of his seasons with the Knights since making the jump to college in 2020 as a three-star prospect. Over the course of 46 career games, he has collected 139 tackles, 4.0 for loss, a sack, four interceptions, 24 pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Louisville now sports seven transfer commitments in this cycle, with Brooks and Thornton joining quarterback Tyler Shough, defensive tackle Thor Griffith, offensive lineman Jonathan Mendoza, and tight ends Mark Redman and Tanner Koziol. The Cardinals have also seen nine players enter the portal since the winter transfer window opened last Monday.
Both are expected to sign on Dec. 20 for the first day of the early signing period. Louisville went 10-2 during the regular season with a berth in the ACC Championship Game under first year head coach Jeff Brohm, and are preparing for their Holiday Bowl matchup with USC on Dec. 27.
(Photo of Ja'Corey Brooks: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports)
You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report
You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter
