Who's In, Who's Out and Who's Back for Louisville Football in 2025

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ever since the 2024 season ended for the Louisville football program, it has been a whirlwind of roster upheaval. Between players declaring for the 2025 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 2025 season. As of the most recent update, the Cardinals are currently at 81 scholarship players - three under the traditional NCAA allotted maximum of 85. However, the scholarship cap was lifted to 105 as part of the House vs. NCAA settlement.

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 2025 season:

*Each player's class is noted by their 2025 class.*

*This list will be updated if/when additional roster moves are made. Last updated: July 29, 2025 - 12:41 p.m. EST*

Quarterbacks

Who's In (2): Mason Mims (Fr.), Miller Moss (R-Sr., Transfer - USC)
Who's Out (3): Harrison Bailey (Transfer - Florida), Pierce Clarkson (Transfer - Ole Miss), Tyler Shough (Graduation)
Who's Back (2): Brady Allen (R-Jr.), Deuce Adams (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 4

Summary: The quarterback room is going to look a little different next season. Not only is Shough's collegiate career now over, Bailey - the backup for the last two seasons - hit the portal after a Sun Bowl MVP performance. That being said, landing Moss was a tremendous recruiting victory, as he has the intangibles and experience to thrive in a Jeff Brohm offense. The battle for the backup spot will be an intriguing one, and spring ball will be incredibly important in determining if Adams, Allen or Mims is the future after 2025.

Running Backs

Who's In (1): Jamarice Wilder (Fr.)
Who's Out (2): Donald Chaney Jr. (Transfer - Charlotte), Maurice Turner (Transfer - Tulane)
Who's Back (3): Isaac Brown (So.), Keyjuan Brown (R-So.), Duke Watson (So.)
On Roster: 4

Summary: The running back spot turned out to be much, much stronger than anticipated as the season progressed. Isaac Brown is a superstar in the making after breaking Lamar Jackson's true freshman rushing record, and Duke Watson is just as explosive - if not more. Additionally, it was a great recruiting win to get Keyjuan Brown to withdraw from the portal for depth purposes - not to mention he has potential as well.

Wide Receivers

Who's In (5): Brock Coffman (Fr.), Dacari Collins (R-Sr., Transfer - NC State), Bobby Golden (R-So., Transfer - Akron), TreyShun Hurry (R-Jr., Transfer - San Diego State), T.J. McWilliams (R-So., Transfer - Minnesota)
Who's Out (6): Ja'Corey Brooks (NFL Draft), Jimmy Calloway (Transfer - Tulane), Cataurus Hicks (Transfer - Pitt), Jahlil McClain (Transfer - Fresno State), JoJo Stone (Transfer - FIU), Jadon Thompson (Transfer - Memphis)
Who's Back (5): Caullin Lacy (R-Sr.), Chris Bell (Sr.), Antonio Meeks (Sr.), Kris Hughes (R-So.), Shaun Boykins Jr. (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 10

Summary: After being a little stagnant in 2023, the passing game took a massive step forward in 2024, partly because of much better receiver play. While Brooks was a big reason for this, Lacy showed in the Sun Bowl why he is one of the better receivers in college football, and Bell turned into a very reliable and consistent option over the season. Meeks also had a good spring, and both Collins and Hurry are quality spring additions at the position, which elevates the position as a whole.

Tight Ends

Who's In (4): Grant Houser (Fr.), Davon Mitchell (R-Fr., Transfer - Oklahoma), Jacob Stewart (Sr., Transfer - San Jose State)
Who's Out (3): Izayah Cummings (Transfer - App State), Jamari Johnson (Transfer - Oregon), Duane Martin (Graduation), Mark Redman (Graduation),
Who's Back (3): Nate Kurisky (R-Jr.), Jaleel Skinner (Jr.), Dylan Mesman (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 7

Summary: The tight end spot was a little bit under-utilized in 2024, but it was still a much bigger factor than it was in 2023. It's also going to look a lot different in 2025, as Redman was Louisville's third-leading receiver, Johnson was pushing for TE1 before his injury, and Martin was a valuable asset at fullback. That being said, Kurisky might be one of the most underrated players on the team, Skinner does has a lot of potential and looked good in the spring, while Stewart was very good last season for SJSU and Mitchell was a highly ranked prospect who has plenty of eligibility left.

Offensive Line

Who's In (10): Gradey Anthony (Fr.), Jordan Church (R-So., Transfer - FAU), Michael Flores (R-Sr., Transfer - Old Dominion), Tyler Folmar (Fr.), Cameron Gorin (Fr.), Carter Guillaume (So., Transfer - SEMO) Naeer Jackson (R-Jr., Transfer - FIU), Mahamane Moussa (R-Sr., Transfer - Purdue), Makylan Pounders (R-Sr., Transfer - Mississippi State), Sam Secrest (R-Jr., Transfer - Houston).
Who's Out (7): Austin Collins (Transfer - Syracuse), Joe Crocker (Transfer - Baylor), Michael Gonzalez (Graduation), Makhete Gueye (Transfer - Missouri State), Jonathan Mendoza (Graduation), Monroe Mills (Transfer - Virginia), Madden Sanker (Transfer - FAU)
Who's Back (8): Victor Cutler (R-Sr.), Rasheed Miller, (R-Sr.), Pete Nygra (R-Sr.), Lance Robinson (R-Sr.), Trevonte Sylvester (R-Sr.), Fred Johnson (R-Fr.), Ransom McDermott (R-Fr.), Jimmy Williams III (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 18

Summary: The offensive line could very well be the strongest position group on the entire roster for Louisville next season. For starters, the line was excellent this season, and you have four of the eight players with triple digit blocking snaps - Brown, Nygra, Miller and Sylvester - coming back. On top of that, the portal additions of Church, Flores, Guillaume, Jackson, Moussa and Pounders will only make this unit that much stronger. Louisville could head into the 2025 season with the best offense line in the ACC, and one of the best in all of college football.

Interior Defensive Line

Who's In (4): Bailey Abercrombie (Fr.), Jerry Lawson (Jr., Transfer - Abilene Christian), Denzel Lowry (R-Sr., Transfer - Old Dominion), Dillon Smith (Fr.)
Who's Out (5): Saadiq Clements (Transfer - TBD), Jared Dawson (Transfer - Notre Dame), Thor Griffith (Graduation), William Spencer (Transfer - SMU), Dezmond Tell (Graduation)
Who's Back (3): Jordan Guerad (R-Sr.) Rene Konga (R-Sr.), Selah Brown (R-Jr.)
On Roster: 7

Summary: Play in the middle of the defensive line was up-and-down at times, but overall, Louisville got solid production out of the defensive tackle spots. Losing longtime anchors Tell and Dawson certainly stings, as well as seeing young pieces Clements and Spencer leave. However, Konga was a much better asset than expected, and Guerad ended the year strong once he was healthy. It remains to be see how Lawson and Lowry handle the jump in competition, or if Brown can take the next step, but the interior of the line for the Cardinals has potential to be fairly disruptive.

Defensive End

Who's In (5): Wesley Bailey (R-Sr., Transfer - Rutgers), Justin Beadles (R-Sr., Transfer - New Mexico State), Eric Hazzard (Fr.), Clev Lubin (R-Jr., Transfer - Coastal Carolina), C.J. May (Fr.)
Who's Out (6): Ashton Gillotte (Graduation), Myles Jernigan (Graduation), Richard Kinley II (Graduation), Tramel Logan (Graduation), Ramon Puryear (Graduation), Mason Reiger (Transfer - Wisconsin)
Who's Back (4): Adonijah Green (R-So.), Micah Carter (R-So.), Maurice Davis (So.), Xavier Porter (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 9

Summary: Louisville is losing a lot of production on the edges. All-American Gillotte is moving on, as is Puryear - who set the program record for games played. Not to mention that guys like Logan, Jernigan and Kinley were key reserves. That being said, defensive end still has the potential to be deadly in 2025. Lubin was one of the best edge rushers in the portal, Bailey was a productive starter, plus May was one of the top-rated high school prospects in the cycle. Not to mention Green has NFL potential. It'll all have to come together in the offseason, but edge rusher could be a strength of the defense next season.

Linebackers

Who's In (3): Caleb Matelau (Fr.), Kalib Perry (Sr., Transfer - Tennessee), Cameron White (Fr.)
Who's Out (3): Jurriente Davis (Transfer - TBD), Dan Foster Jr. (Graduation), Benjamin Perry (Transfer - UCLA)
Who's Back (5): T.J. Quinn (R-Sr.), Antonio Watts (Sr.), Stanquan Clark (Jr.), T.J. Capers (R-So.), Trent Carter (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: When talking about what will be a strength next season for Louisville, linebacker is likely going to be that. Quinn and Clark, the Cardinals' two leading tacklers, are back for 2025 - and the latter has a case for best player on the entire defense. Watts also has a breakout year at STAR in his first season as a starter, Perry was a rotational fixture at UT, plus Capers and Carter showed flashes when they did see the field. This unit will collectively have to improve their efforts in coverage, but they played a big role in Louisville's ability to stop the run.

Cornerbacks

Who's In (5): Justin Agu (R-Sr., Transfer - Louisiana), Antonio Harris (Fr.), Rodney Johnson Jr. (R-Sr., Transfer - Southern), Jabari Mack (Sr., Transfer - Jax State), Nigel Williams (R-Sr., Transfer - New Mexico
Who's Out (5): Jathan Hatch (Left Team), Tahveon Nicholson (Graduation), Quincy Riley (Graduation), Corey Thornton (Graduation), Aaron Williams (Transfer - UCLA)
Who's Back (2): Tayon Holloway (R-Jr.), Rae'mon Mosby (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 7

Summary: No area of the defense for Louisville has more question marks than cornerback, as four of their five top corners from 2024 will not be here in 2025. The Cardinals' three portal additions all have potential, but are also having to make jumps to the ACC from either the G5 or FCS. Holloway was mostly good in a pseudo-starter role, Mosby looked solid in the Sun Bowl - but that was his only real playing time in 2024.

Safeties

Who's In (3): JoJo Evans (R-Sr., Transfer - FIU), Corey Gordon Jr. (R-Jr., Transfer - Baylor), Micah Rice (Fr.)
Who's Out (3): M.J. Griffin (Graduation), Tamarion McDonald (Graduation), Devin Neal (Transfer - Virginia)
Who's Back (3): Blake Ruffin (R-Sr.), D'Angelo Hutchinson (Sr.), Daeh McCullough (R-So.)
On Roster: 6

Summary: Louisville does lose two starters on the back end in Griffin and McDonald, and they do likely need to add some here through the portal, but they're actually in a good spot at safety. Evans and Gordon were top flight portal safeties, and Hutchinson had an impressive breakout campaign for UofL in 2024. If they can get either Ruffin or McCullough to step forward, or add another impact playmaker in the portal, the Cardinals will be very well off here at safety.

Special Teams

Who's In (0): N/A
Who's Out (1): PK Brock Travelstead (Graduation)
Who's Back (1): LS Shai Kochav (R-Sr.)
On Roster: 1

Summary: Travelstead was able to end his collegiate career on a high note, but Louisville isn't left high and dry at kicker. In fact, they'll likely have an intense battle between three walk-ons: Nick Keller, Cooper Ranvier and incoming freshman Carson Hilbert. As far as punting goes, Carter Schwartz was named special team MVP of the Sun Bowl, so it's a safe bet that he'll be the punter in 2025.

(Photo of Helmet: Brett Davis - Imagn Images)

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