Louisville football transfer portal tracker: Jeff Brohm adds ex-Tennessee DL Tyler Baron

After having a successful transfer portal class in 2023, Louisville coach Jeff Brohm has used a full recruiting cycle to up the ante this year.

The Cardinals have picked up 26 transfer players from the transfer portal, including two Louisville natives in Izayah Cummings, a Male High School graduate, and Trinity High School alum Blake Ruffin. Each transfer fills a need for the Cardinals and can help them sustain the success achieved in Year 1 under Brohm. The group is ranked fourth in 247Sports' transfer team rankings and No. 1 in On3's transfer portal index. It includes a quarterback, linebacker, two running backs, three wide receivers, three defensive linemen, seven defensive backs, three tight ends and six offensive linemen.

The transfer portal will reopen April 16-30, which gives Brohm and company time to evaluate personnel after the spring football season. Louisville is set to begin the 2024 season by hosting Austin Peay on Aug. 31. It'll be the first time in three years the program doesn't play an ACC opponent in the season opener.

Here is a look at Louisville's incoming and outgoing transfer players.

Incoming Louisville transfersTahveon Nicholson, Jr., CB, Illinois

After missing the final three games of the 2022 season with an injury, Nicholson started in 11 of 12 games played, making 36 tackles, two for loss, six pass breakups, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles before entering the transfer portal in December. A two-year starter, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound corner committed to Louisville on Jan. 17 to help add depth to the group’s secondary.

Tyler Baron, Jr., DL, Tennessee

After originally committing to Ole Miss, Baron flipped to Louisville on Jan. 16, adding to an already stacked defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Tennessee native started in 18 of 47 games played with the Volunteers. In his final season, he made 28 tackles, 10 ½ for loss, to go along with six sacks and a fumble recovery and was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week on Sept. 2 after recording three tackles and two sacks. He’s ranked as the fourth-best overall defensive lineman and No. 3 edge player in the portal.

Jaleel Skinner, Soph., TE, Miami

Despite losing Tanner Koziol, Louisville found another tight end in the portal in Skinner, a four-star prospect coming out of high school who reportedly committed to Louisville on Jan. 13. He made two starts — against Florida State and Clemson — in nine games played, catching nine passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in his college debut campaign.

Tamarion McDonald, Sr., S, Tennessee

Once committed to Ole Miss, McDonald switched his decision to come to Louisville, joining fellow Volunteer Wesley Walker on Jan. 8. McDonald started at the STAR position in 10 games for Tennessee in 2023 and totaled 40 tackles, with four pass breakups and one interception. His first start came as a freshman before moving into the role full time in 2022, ending his time at Tennessee with 24 starts in 42 games played. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Tennessee native was listed as the No. 21 safety in the transfer portal, per 247Sports.

Wesley Walker, R-Sr., DB, Tennessee

Despite missing his last two games as a Volunteer due to an injury, Walker was a 10-game starter at safety and ranked fourth on the team in tackles (53) to go along with an interception and sack. He played in 23 games and had 89 tackles, two sacks and seven passes defended over two years at Tennessee. He spent three years at Georgia Tech before that, starting in 13 of 23 games played.

Antonio Meeks, Soph., WR, Tuskegee

Louisville continues to bring in HBCU talent, as Meeks committed Jan. 7. The Georgia native was Tuskegee's leading receiver despite being limited to eight games due to injuries. Meeks, listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, is the third receiver the Cardinals have added from the transfer portal. Louisville lost four receivers to the transfer portal, and leading receiver Jamari Thrash opted to enter the NFL draft.

Jurriente Davis, Gr., LB, Texas A&M

Davis' college career has included stints at Hutchinson Community College, Middle Tennessee State, Jackson State and, most recently, Texas A&M. The 6-foot-1, 253-pound linebacker played in only three games as an Aggie and totaled six tackles. Though he sustained what was considered a "minor injury" in September, he never played again after making two tackles against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 16. Davis committed to Louisville on Jan. 7 and can help add to a linebacker room that saw breakout performances from TJ Quinn, Antonio Watts and Stanquan Clark last season.

Daeh McCullough, Fr., S, Oklahoma

McCullough was a four-star recruit, the No. 3 player in Indiana and the No. 19 safety in the Class of 2023 coming out of high school, per ESPN. But his time as a Sooner ended with him having played only against Arkansas State without logging any statistics. McCullough, whose father, Deland, is the running backs coach at Notre Dame, reportedly entered the transfer portal Jan. 2 and committed to Louisville four days later.

Reuben Unije, Sr., OL, Houston

Lance Robinson will reunite with his former Cougars teammate after Unije announced his decision to transfer to Louisville on Jan. 6. Unije, listed at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, was an 11-game starter for Houston last year, played the sixth-most offensive snaps on the team (679) and was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 after blocking for a Cougars offense that totaled 23.7 points and 360.2 offensive yards per game, including 241.5 passing yards per outing.

Peny Boone, Soph., RB, Toledo

Louisville landed a massive commitment from Boone on Jan. 6. Upon losing Isaac Guerendo and Jawhar Jordan to the NFL draft, the Cardinals won't be without an explosive talent coming out of the backfield with Boone. Listed as the fifth-best running back in the portal, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Detroit native totaled 1,400 yards on 194 carries, which ranked eighth nationally, 15 touchdowns (T-11th), 107.9 yards per game (11th) and 7.2 yards per carry (third). Boone was also Toledo's highest-graded offensive player with an 86.1 to end his second year of college.

Rasheed Miller, R-Jr., OL, Georgia Southern

The Cardinals continued to add to their offensive line depth by picking up Miller on Jan. 6. The 6-foot-7, 310-pound Florida native started 13 games at right tackle for Georgia Southern and played 809 offensive snaps. He had the sixth-best run block grade on the team (66.0) while helping the Eagles average 30.2 points and 419.5 offensive yards per game, with 302.2 yards per outing coming through the air.

Tayon Holloway, R-Fr., DB, North Carolina

Holloway was a four-star prospect and the No. 24 cornerback in the Class of 2022 and redshirted upon his arrival at UNC. In his redshirt freshman season this fall, the 6-foot, 185-pound Virginia native started in six of 10 games played and totaled 19 tackles with one defended pass.

Louisville had success with former Tar Heels defensive backs this season, adding Cam Kelly and Storm Duck from the portal prior to the 2023 season. Kelly was the team's second-leading tackler, and Duck stepped in as a starter when Jarvis Brownlee was injured.

Monroe Mills, R-Jr., OL, Texas Tech

Mills, listed at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, will join Shough as former Red Raiders headed to Louisville after the Missouri native committed to the Cardinals on Dec. 19. He started at left tackle in 12 games for the Raiders this season and gave up only two sacks in 894 snaps played. Mills also had the team’s third-highest pass blocking grade (79.3). Mills’ blocking helped Texas Tech tally 27.4 points and 386.7 yards of offense per game. Mills also had a two-year stint at Oklahoma State but played in only two games.

Izayah Cummings, Sr., TE, Kentucky

The Male High School graduate is crossing the rivalry line and committed to the Cardinals on Dec. 18. Once a top-10 prospect in Kentucky, Cummings spent the past four years as a Wildcat. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound tight end started four of 47 games he played at UK. This year, he totaled 98 yards on four catches and started against Georgia, playing in all 12 games. The Louisville native also had a 55-yard catch against his new school during Kentucky's Governor's Cup victory in November.

Cummings is the second tight end the Cardinals have added from the portal.

Blake Ruffin, R-Soph., S, Eastern Illinois

The Trinity High School graduate committed to his hometown university Dec. 18, ending a three-year career at Eastern Illinois. After sustaining a season-ending injury during fall camp in 2022, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive back returned to the field this season as a starter and led the team in interceptions (4). He totaled a second-best 63 tackles, four for loss, to go along with four pass breakups, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Though Louisville will get MJ Griffin back from injury next season, Ruffin can help a shallow defensive backs group that lost safeties Cam Kelly, who declared for the NFL draft, and Ballard High School grad Josh Minkins, who transferred to West Virginia.

Victor Cutler, Sr., OL, Ohio State

Cutler, listed at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, spent one season at Ohio State and took part in spring drills but was limited to four games and 21 snaps at center during the 2023 season. Before becoming a Buckeye, the Louisiana native spent four years at Louisiana Monroe, starting at center, left tackle and right tackle, making him a versatile addition for the Cardinals after he committed to the program Dec. 17.

Caullin Lacy, Jr., WR, South Alabama

Louisville is adding to an already-deep wide receiver unit with Lacy. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Lacy is ranked 23rd among portal receivers. He committed to Louisville on Dec. 17 and left South Alabama after leading the team with 1,316 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 receptions in 12 games. The Alabama native had five 100-yard receiving games and also contributed on special teams with 210 yards on 21 punt returns.

Donald Chaney, R-Soph., RB, Miami

With Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo leaving for the NFL, the Cardinals are down two experienced backs. Having spent the last four years at Miami, Chaney can help fill that void after committing to Louisville on Dec. 16. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Floridian, ranked the 11th-best running back in the portal, totaled 478 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries in 11 games. He played against the Cardinals in November and had 3 yards on four carries along with a 3-yard catch in the Hurricanes’ 38-31 loss.

Pete Nygra, R-Soph., OL, Northern Illinois

Nygra, listed at 6-4, 292 pounds, was a two-year starter at center for Northern Illinois, making him a viable option to replace Bryan Hudson for Louisville. Once ranked the No. 1 center in Indiana as a high school prospect, Nygra played 772 snaps for the Huskies and had the team’s third-best pass-blocking grade this season (75.7), helping the offense average 186.3 passing yards and 365.1 total yards per game.

Jordan Guerad, R-Soph., DL, Florida International

Guerad committed to Minnesota on Dec. 10 after leaving Florida International but flipped to the Cardinals on Dec. 16. Guerad, listed at 6-3, 295 pounds, totaled 38 tackles, including seven for loss, with two sacks and a forced fumble over 12 games as a starter for the Panthers this season. He was the team’s lone representative on the All-Conference USA first team.

Corey Thornton, Sr., DB, UCF

Prior to committing to Louisville on Dec. 15, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Thornton was a four-year starter for the Golden Knights. He had a team-high three interceptions this season to go along with 27 tackles and nine pass breakups. He finished his UCF career with 139 tackles, four interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble.

Adding an extra defensive back will be key for the Cardinals, who were thin at the position at times last season. They lose Storm Duck and Jarvis Brownlee but keep Quincy Riley.

Ja'Corey Brooks, Jr., WR, Alabama

Once a five-star prospect coming out of IMG Academy, Brooks spent the last three seasons at Alabama, where he played on special teams and compiled 896 yards and 10 touchdowns on 57 receptions, averaging 15.7 yards per catch in 36 games played. The 6-2, 196-pound wideout was limited during the 2023 season and sustained an upper body injury against LSU, ending the season with 30 yards on three catches over eight games. He's ranked eighth among transfer wide receivers, according to 247Sports, and committed to Louisville on Dec. 15.

Mark Redman, Sr., TE, San Diego State

Louisville lacked depth and experience at tight end this season. The same won't be said next year, though. The Cardinals picked up Redman from the portal Dec. 12.

Redman spent the last two seasons at San Diego State, where he recorded 633 yards and five touchdowns on 58 receptions, averaging 10.9 yards per catch. In 2022, the California native was named to the All-Mountain West first team.

Redman spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Washington, where he played in 16 games with one start.

Jonathan Mendoza, Sr., OL, Yale

The 6-foot-9, 308-pound All-Ivy League first-team selection blocked for an offense that finished second in the conference in scoring with 29.9 points per game in addition to averaging 354.2 yards per game. He committed to Louisville on Dec. 10 for his final college season.

Thor Griffith, Sr., DL, Harvard

The All-Ivy League defensive tackle had the fourth-most tackles for Harvard, totaling 55 on the season, which included 11 tackles for loss and 3 ½ sacks to go along with one forced fumble in 10 games played. A finalist for the Jerry Rice Award — honoring the Football Championship Subdivision's most outstanding freshman player — in 2021, Griffith ended his career at Harvard with 132 total tackles, 33 ½ for loss, and 13 ½ sacks over 30 games.

Though it was believed he would go to either Michigan or Ohio State, Griffith, listed at 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, announced he would transfer to Louisville on Dec. 10 for his final college season. He's expected to be one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Tyler Shough, Sr., QB, Texas Tech

Shough was a pro-style, four-star quarterback and the No. 1 player in Arizona coming out of high school and started his college career at Oregon. There, he played 15 games and recorded 1,559 passing yards, completing 64.8% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.

He transferred to Texas Tech in 2021 but never played a full season, struggling with injuries in each season. But the Arizona native threw for 2,922 yards in 15 games played for the Red Raiders over his three-year stint. Now he'll close out his college career at Louisville, announcing his intention become a Cardinal on Dec. 5.

Shough is a seventh-year player and applied for an extra year of eligibility due to medical hardship, which was approved after Texas Tech's bowl game.

Outgoing Louisville transfers

John Paul Flores, R-Sr., OL

Flores became the third offensive lineman to enter the transfer portal, on Jan. 4. He was able to enter the portal after it closed Jan. 2 because he is a graduate transfer. The left guard came to Louisville last year from Dartmouth and played in 11 games for the Cardinals in 2023.

Kevin Coleman, Soph., WR (Mississippi State)

Coleman came to Louisville from Jackson State, where he was the SWAC Freshman of the Year. The Missouri native earned the season-opening starting spot for the Cardinals and totaled 362 yards and two touchdowns on 26 receptions. He added 25 yards on six carries, starting in 11 of 14 games played. He was also active on special teams, returning 26 punts for 117 yards, before starting the new year with his decision to leave Louisville.

William Fowles, Fr., WR

Fowles was a pre-Jeff Brohm commit and maintained his decision to become a Cardinal following the coaching change. The midyear enrollee spent the spring on campus but played in only one game, logging a 7-yard reception against Murray State on Sept. 7. He entered the transfer portal just before it closed Jan. 2.

Darrian Bell, Jr., LB

Bell played in six games this past season but only played on defense in one game, totaling one tackle against Murray State. He ended his time as a Cardinal with two tackles in 10 games played over three years before entering the transfer portal Dec. 29.

Rodney McGraw, R-Soph., DL

McGraw's lone season at Louisville ended with the Penn State transfer having played three snaps in one game for the Cardinals, though he didn't log any statistics. He entered the transfer portal Dec. 29.

Jeff Clark, R-Jr., DL

Clark came to Louisville from Georgia State and was a reserve defensive lineman for the Cardinals this season. He had the fifth-best defensive grade on the team (76.7) with 14 tackles, two for loss, in 14 games played before entering the portal Dec. 29.

Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Jr., WR (South Carolina)

After three years as a Cardinal, Huggins-Bruce announced his plan to enter the transfer portal Dec. 29. He played in 38 games during his three years, started seven games last year and made two starts in 14 games played this season. Huggins-Bruce totaled 312 yards and four touchdowns on 20 receptions. He carried the ball six times for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Vincent Lumia, Sr., OL

Lumia transferred to Louisville from Duquesne this year but is leaving, he announced on social media Dec. 28. The offensive tackle played seven snaps in one game as a Cardinal.

Nick Lopez, R-Sr., K

Lopez came to Louisville from California this season but announced Dec. 28 that he is transferring. He played behind Brock Travelstead and appeared in one game, making a 40-yard field goal against Miami. He also was 11 for 11 on PATs.

Keith Brown, Jr., LB

Brown came to Louisville to add experience to the Cardinals' linebacker group. But the Oregon transfer played only four games and made one tackle before heading back to the transfer portal Dec. 28.

Elijah Downing, R-Soph., WR

The Ballard High School graduate began his career at Murray State and came to Louisville last season, when he caught one pass. This year, Downing played in two games but had only a 7-yard catch against Murray State.

Derrick Edwards, R-Soph., DB

Edwards played in 11 games this season for the Cardinals, totaling five tackles. His time at Louisville has been limited with the Florida native redshirting in 2021 and playing in only one game in 2022.

Kam Wilson, R-Soph., DL

Wilson came to Louisville as a four-star linebacker in 2020 but moved to the defensive line. This season, he totaled 14 tackles and two sacks with a forced fumble as a reserve in 13 games.

Ryheem Craig, R-Soph., DL (East Carolina)

Craig played in 12 games this season but took only 27 snaps on defense, logging three tackles and a quarterback hurry before entering the portal Dec. 5. In his previous two seasons with the Cardinals, he played in eight games and had his first career sack in 2021 before redshirting.

Josh Minkins, Jr., S (West Virginia)

Minkins, a Ballard High School graduate, was the Cardinals' starting safety in 2022 and was projected to keep his position this year. But a hamstring injury caused him to miss the season opener, with transfer Cam Kelly filling in. Kelly eventually became the starter, though Minkins still played. He tallied 21 tackles this season and has one year of eligibility left after entering the transfer portal Dec. 4.

Minkins' father, Josh Minkins Sr., also played at Louisville, and his brother, Jaden, came to Louisville as a preferred walk-on this year.

Popeye Williams, Soph., DL (Western Michigan)

Williams was the Cardinals' highest-ranked recruit as the only four-star prospect in the 2022 class. He was listed as Indiana's sixth-best player and No. 17 edge rusher in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. In his 2022 collegiate debut, Williams played 34 snaps in five games and logged three tackles. As a sophomore, he played less and was credited with only one quarterback hurry.

"Looking for a home that will develop me for the next level," Williams posted after entering the transfer portal Dec. 4.

Early Crystal Ball predictions have him going to Ball State.

Victoine Brown, R-Soph., DL

In three years at Louisville, Brown played six snaps in two games, all of which were during his redshirt season in 2021. Coming out of Georgia, Brown, who entered the portal Dec. 4, was a three-star athlete ranked 38th among in-state players and 63rd among defensive linemen.

There are no Crystal Ball projections for him.

Marquis Groves-Killebrew, R-Fr., DB

The Georgia native spent one season at Louisville and will now look for a third school in as many seasons. He started at Texas A&M, where he recorded two tackles in three games played in 2022, before becoming a Cardinal. This season, he played in only four games but didn't log any stats before entering the portal Dec. 4.

Jackson Hamilton, R-Soph., LB (Georgia Tech)

TJ Quinn and Jaylin Alderman emerged as the Cardinals' starting linebackers and kept the positions with Quinn becoming the team's leading tackler in a breakout season.

That didn't leave much room for Hamilton, a reserve linebacker who played in 12 games but saw action on defense in six games. He played 54 snaps, totaling 11 tackles and a pass breakup. Hamilton, who entered the portal Dec. 4, has two years of eligibility left.

Izaiah Reed, R-Fr., OL (Memphis)

After not playing in 2022, Reed played eight snaps at guard this season for the Cardinals. During that time, his pass blocking was graded at 73.5 and received a 63.7 run blocking grade. Reed entered the portal Dec. 4.

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Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football roster: Jeff Brohm adds Tennessee DL Tyler Baron