Louisville football wide receiver Antonio Meeks out to prove he belongs on Power 5 stage

Wide receiver Antonio Meeks' football journey has taken many twists and turns, but his path has led him to Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals.

Meeks, a junior from Lilburn, Georgia, initially decided to attend Delta State after high school on a partial scholarship, but after summer workouts, he decided it wasn't the right fit for him.

He took a year off from school, so he stayed home and trained, waiting for the next opportunity.

"During that period, it was a lot of good self-talk ... convincing myself that I'm ready for this, I deserve to be there, I deserve to have a unique opportunity, I deserve a lot more," said Meeks, who received some Division I offers in high school. Limited scholarships were available, though, because college players were awarded an extra year during the pandemic.

Meeks worked with trainer TJ Brown, also known as TopShelf TJ, who has experience training receivers from beginners to pros.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver worked out with some NFL players, which gave him a huge confidence boost after he saw how he stacked up.Going from Division II Tuskegee University, where he played for two seasons, to a Power Five program has motivated Meeks, one of six receivers who transferred to Louisville in the offseason.

"It's only going to get harder going up toward the pro level," Meeks said. "I just feel like, why not get going right now? It's either going to do two things: It's going to make me run away from it, or it's going to bring out the best in me. I feel like right now, it's bringing out the best in me."

Cardinals wide receivers coach Garrick McGee said Meeks has done well.

"He's doing a good job. We're trying to figure out where to use him. Is he an outside receiver? Is he inside? He's something because his hands, you know, he's just a natural catcher of the football. He understands how to move his body," McGee said.

"Now that he's learning more and more about the offense and doesn't have to think so much, you can see his speed come to life. But he's a solid receiver that's really going to help us. He's going to convert a lot of third downs for us. I bet on it."

In two years at Tuskegee, Meeks had 74 receptions for 1,437 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2023, he played eight games, averaged 93.1 yards per game and earned second-team All-SIAC honors.

Despite his success at Tuskegee, Meeks said his drive and hunger remain after coming from an institution with fewer than 5,000 students and limited resources to a Power Five university that just made the ACC championship game.

"I felt counted out, you know, overlooked and everything like that. I feel like bringing that mindset here to where I am now is going to be one of the things that helps me get through each day, just remembering where I come from," Meeks said.

On Nov. 30, Meeks put his name in the transfer portal and heard from other Power Five schools including Boston College, Wake Forest, Kansas State and Iowa State.

As far as his future, Meeks said he still is competing to earn his spot on the field, but his dream is to be a 1,000-yard receiver this year and one day be the nation's best receiver.

"The more that I can contribute, the more that my teammates can contribute to a win, the longer our season continues, giving everybody more opportunities to chase the ultimate goal (a national championship)."

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Antonio Meeks of Louisville Cardinals football out to prove he belongs