Who's In, Who's Out and Who's Back for Louisville Football in 2026

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2025 season for the Louisville football program is now in the books, and with it will come an inevitable whirlwind of roster upheaval.

Between players declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, transfers coming in and out, as well as new recruits joining the fold, sometimes it can be hard to track which scholarship players are joining, leaving and staying for another year. While the dust is far from being settled, we can start to have some idea as to what Louisville's roster will look like for the 2026 season.

As of the most recent update, the Cardinals are currently at 84 scholarship players - 1 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 2026 season:

*Each player's class is noted by their 2026 class.*

*This list will be updated if/when additional roster moves are made. Last updated: Feb. 9, 2026 - 4:55 p.m. EST*

Quarterbacks

Who's In (3): Davin Wydner (R-Sr., Transfer - West Georgia), Lincoln Kienholz (R-Jr.), Briggs Cherry (Fr.)
Who's Out (3): Deuce Adams (Transfer - Wisconsin), Brady Allen (Transfer - Indiana State), Mason Mims (Transfer - TBD), Miller Moss (Graduation)
Who's Back (1): Ryan Zimmerman (R-So.)
On Roster: 4

Summary: With Moss graduating following his one year at Louisville, and Adams, Allen plus Mims all opting to transfer the program, the quarterback room is going to look very different next season. Kienholz is in line to be QB1, and while he doesn't have a ton of overall experience, he has a lively arm and is very athletic overall. Wydner also has a similar play style to Kienholz and was productive at his previous stop, making him a good backup option. Then with Cherry, while he might be a true freshman, he has a very high ceiling and bright future ahead of him.

Running Backs

Who's In (2): Marquise Davis (R-Fr., Transfer - Missouri), Lekhy Thompkins (Fr.)
Who's Out (3): Shaun Boykins Jr. (Transfer - Montana), Duke Watson (Transfer - UCF), Jamarice Wilder (Transfer - TBD)
Who's Back (3): Keyjuan Brown (R-Jr.), Isaac Brown (Jr.), Braxton Jennings (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 5

Summary: Despite losing a trio of promising players, Louisville's running back room is still incredibly strong. For starters, it features one of the best players in the sport in Isaac Brown, who the Cardinals were able to convince not to hit the portal. Keyjuan Brown is coming off of a career year and appears to be coming back, Davis has a high ceiling as a former blue chip prospect, and former walk-on Braxton Jennings earned a scholarship after his breakout performance in the Kentucky game. The ground game in 2026 will be as strong as ever.

Wide Receivers

Who's In (10): Payton Cook (Fr.), Jakob Dixon (Sr., Transfer - Eastern Kentucky), Rhys Dorsey (Fr.), Marlon Harbin (Fr.), Lawayne McCory (Jr., Transfer - Florida State), Montavin Quisenberry (R-Fr., Transfer - Kentucky), Tre Richardson (Sr., Transfer - Vanderbilt), Jackson Voth (R-So., Transfer - Drake), Gavin Waddell (Fr.), D.J. Williams (Fr.)
Who's Out (5): Chris Bell (Graduation), Brock Coffman (Transfer - Kentucky), Dacari Collins (Graduation), Bobby Golden (Transfer - TBD), Caullin Lacy (Graduation), Antonio Meeks (Transfer - TBD)
Who's Back (3): TreyShun Hurry (R-Sr.), T.J. McWilliams (R-Sr.), Kris Hughes (R-Jr.)
On Roster: 13

Summary: With three starters in Bell, Lacy and Hurry all gone, Louisville's wide receiver room is going to look a lot different next season - but it is looking like it could be a good unit. Richardson was one of the fastest and most prolific players in the SEC this past season, and McCoy had a breakout sophomore season. Not to mention Hughes and Hurry have shown flashes, and transfers like Quisenberry and Voth have high upside as well.

Tight Ends

Who's In (3): Brody Foley (R-Sr., Transfer - Tulsa), Julius Miles (Fr.), Justyn Reid (R-Jr., Transfer - Tulane)
Who's Out (4): Nate Kurisky (Transfer - Duke), Grant Houser (Transfer - Colorado State), Davon Mitchell (Transfer - TBD), Jacob Stewart (Graduation)
Who's Back (2): Jaleel Skinner (Sr.), Dylan Mesman (R-So.)
On Roster: 5

Summary: The tight end spot has continued to be under-utilized by Brohm at Louisville compared to his time at WKU and Purdue, but that could change next season. Foley is coming off of a fantastic season and has game-changing potential, and Reid is very good in both the passing game and blocking. Not to mention that Skinner is one of the most athletic players on the roster (which has shown in spurts), and Miles could very well push for early playing time given his talent.

Offensive Line

Who's In (10): Johnnie Brown III (R-Sr., Transfer - Georgia Southern), Bryten Close (Fr.), Benjamin Corhei (Fr.), Eryx Daugherty (R-Jr., Transfer - Boston College), Charles Edgeworth (Fr.), Cason Henry (R-Sr., Transfer - South Carolina), Max Merz (Fr.), Anwar O'Neal (R-Jr., Transfer - Delaware), Jarvis Strickland (Fr.), Evan Wibberley (R-Sr., Transfer - Kentucky)
Who's Out (10): Jordan Church (Transfer - TBD), Victor Cutler (Graduation), Michael Flores (Graduation), Carter Guillaume (Transfer - Oregon State), Fred Johnson (Transfer - TBD), Ransom McDermott (Transfer - Temple), Rasheed Miller (Graduation), Mahamane Moussa (Graduation), Pete Nygra (Graduation), Makylan Pounders (Graduation), Trevonte Sylvester (Graduation)
Who's Back (7): Naeer Jackson (R-Sr.), Lance Robinson (R-Sr.), Sam Secrest (R-Sr.), Jimmy Williams III (R-So.), Gradey Anthony (R-Fr.), Tyler Folmar (R-Fr.), Cameron Gorin (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 17

Summary: It was a tale of two halves for the offensive line in 2025, as they struggled immensely in the first half but thrived in the second. However, this group will look markedly different in 2025, as four of their five starters from this season are officially running out of eligibility. But the line isn't being left high and dry. Brown, Daugherty, Henry, O'Neal and Wibberley are all big time portal pickups. Robinson is running it back for one more year as a starter. Guys like Jackson and Gorin have performed well at points in their career and could be in line to be in the main rotation. There are still a few returning players you'd like to see take a step forward, but the O-line is still in a great spot.

Interior Defensive Line

Who's In (5): Sam Dawson (Fr.), Joshua Donald (R-Sr., Transfer - Houston), Demeco Kennedy (Jr., Transfer - Purdue), Daylen Russell (R-So., Transfer - Miami), Tommy Ziesmer (R-Jr., Transfer - EKU)
Who's Out (5): Selah Brown (Transfer - TBD), Jordan Guerad (Graduation), Rene Konga (Graduation), Jerry Lawson (Transfer - Oklahoma State), Denzel Lowry (Graduation)
Who's Back (2): Bailey Abercrombie (R-Fr.), Dillon Smith (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 7

Summary: This is a spot where Louisville has some questions following roster turnover. Their starting defensive tackle duo in Guerad and Konga both graduated, plus their backups in Lowry and Lawson are gone as well. Ziesler is coming off of a good season at EKU, Kennedy has a good amount of early experience, Donald has shown good things in the past and Russell does have a somewhat high ceiling. However, will it all come together?

Defensive End

Who's In (4): Jon Adams (Fr.), Jacob Smith (R-So., Transfer - Kentucky), Jerod Smith II (Jr., Transfer - Kentucky), Tyler Thompson (R-Jr., Transfer - North Carolina)
Who's Out (5): Wesley Bailey (Graduation), Justin Beadles (Transfer - Cal), Maurice Davis (Transfer - TBD), C.J. May (Transfer - TBD), Xavier Porter (Transfer - South Alabama)
Who's Back (4): Clev Lubin (R-Sr.), Micah Carter (R-Jr.), A.J. Green (R-Jr.), Eric Hazzard (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: Louisville got a bunch of production out of their defensive end spot in 2025, and it's shaping up to be the same in 2026 despite losing multiple pieces. This is primarily because Lubin is one of the best defensive players in the ACC, and was a certified game-wrecker in almost every single contest. Additionally, Thompson had a very productive 2025 campaign, Green is coming off of a career year and has NFL-level potential, and the Smith twins both have high ceilings. Plus, Hazzard and Carter have also shown flashes at times.

Linebackers

Who's In (2): Brady Ballart (Fr.), Taj Powell (Fr.)
Who's Out (3): Kalib Perry (Graduation), T.J. Quinn (Graduation), Nigel Williams (Graduation)
Who's Back (7): Benjamin Perry (R-Sr.), Antonio Watts (R-Sr.), Stanquan Clark (R-Jr.), T.J. Capers (R-Jr.), Trent Carter (R-So.), Caleb Matelau (R-Fr.), Cameron White (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 9

Summary: Despite three-time leading tackler Quinn moving on, on paper, Louisville's linebacking corps is arguably still very strong. Watts has been a multi-year X-Factor at STAR, Perry is returning, Clark is still one of the Cardinals' best defensive players despite missing most of the season due to injury, and Capers is continuing to take steps forward. Depth is a concern, but it's not the biggest one at this point.

Cornerbacks

Who's In (5): Jaydin Broadnax (Fr.), Kris Brunson (Fr.), Brycen Scott (Jr., Transfer - Elon), D.J. Waller (Sr., Transfer - Kentucky), Santana Wilson (R-So., Transfer - Texas)
Who's Out (4): Justin Agu (Transfer - TBD), Rodney Johnson Jr. (Graduation), Jabari Mack (Graduation), Rae'mon Mosby (Transfer - East Carolina)
Who's Back (2): Tayon Holloway (R-Sr.), Antonio Harris (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 7

Summary: The cornerback spot for Louisville was much better than anticipated this past season, but it's gonna look a little different next season with two of the top three corners moving on. Holloway did very well this year with a very high snap count, Waller and Wilson both have high potential, Scott was productive at his previous school and Broadnax has a chance to get early playing time. Harris will likely need to take steps forward to elevate the room as a whole, but there is potential here.

Safeties

Who's In (4): Travaris Banks (Jr., Transfer - Ole Miss), Kaleb Beasley (Jr., _ Transfer - Tennessee), Koen Entringer (R-Sr., Transfer - Iowa), Jordan Vann (Fr.)
Who's Out (4): JoJo Evans (Graduation), Corey Gordon Jr. (Transfer - Kansas), Daeh McCullough (Transfer - TBD), D'Angelo Hutchinson (Graduation)
Who's Back (2): Blake Ruffin (R-Sr.), Micah Rice (R-Fr.)
On Roster: 6

Summary: Louisville heads into their 2026 season with some questions at the safety spot. While Entringer is certainly a difference maker and is one of the top defensive players on the team, the rest of the room is what's in flux. Beasley will be asked to take on a bigger role, Banks has upside but was hit-or-miss last season, Ruffin doesn't have much experience at this level, Rice is a redshirt freshman and Vann is a true freshman.

Special Teams

Who's In (2): P Jacob Baker (R-Jr., Transfer - EKU), LS Ryan Manis (R-So., Transfer - Liberty)
Who's Out (1): LS Shai Kochav (Graduation)
Who's Back (1): PK Nick Keller (R-Sr.)
On Roster: 3

Summary: Keeping up with the theme of most of the roster, Louisville's special teams unit is going to look a lot different next season. Manis is replacing Kochav at long snapper after the latter had a long and efficient collegiate career, and Baker is in line to take over as the starting punter after Schwartz hit the portal. Not to mention that Cooper Ranvier is transferring as well, but former walk-on Nick Keller earned a scholarship and will take over placekicking duties.