Former Louisville tight end Jamari Johnson is drawing major national buzz again, and this time it comes with an All-America label attached.
On3 Sports unveiled its Preseason 2026 All-America football team on August 10, 2026, and Johnson landed on the First-Team All-America list. That kind of recognition is a reminder of just how far his game has come since his Louisville days - and how much the Cardinals have had to turn over this offseason.
Louisville spent the offseason rebuilding a roster that was hit hard by departures, adding more than 32 transfers from the Transfer Portal. The Cardinals had to replace nearly their entire offense after losing their offensive line, top receivers, multiple tight ends and their starting quarterback. Among the new faces was 4-star transfer Brody Foley from Tulsa, one of the pieces Louisville hopes can help stabilize the offense.
But Johnson’s name still lingers for Cardinals fans.
A former Louisville commitment from the 2023 recruiting class, Johnson arrived as one of the most coveted tight ends in the country. The California product was ranked as a 4-star prospect, No. 190 overall, No. 11 among ATH and No. 17 among California natives. His recruiting board was loaded, with more than 14 offers that included Alabama, Miami, Florida State, Michigan and Michigan State, among others.
His time at Louisville was short. Injury limited him during his true freshman season, and his redshirt freshman year was interrupted again when a season-ending ankle injury against Miami in October ended his season after seven games. Still, when he was healthy enough to contribute, he showed flashes of what made him such a prized recruit, finishing with 13 catches for 158 yards and one touchdown.
Now at Oregon, Johnson has taken another step. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound tight end posted 32 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns last season with the Ducks, and On3’s Chris Low pointed out how productive he was in a crowded offense:
"The 6-5, 257-pound redshirt junior started his career at Louisville, but in his first season with the Ducks a year ago, caught 32 passes while playing in Sadiq’s shadow and finished second on the team by averaging 15.9 yards per catch. Two of Johnson’s three touchdown catches last season came in the playoff.
Oregon has produced 10 NFL players at tight end over the past 20 years. Johnson is set to be the 11th and likely a first-rounder."
For Louisville, it’s the kind of development that sparks plenty of what-if talk. Johnson would have fit into a room that now features an elite running back group and new receivers Tre Richardson and Lawayne McCoy. Instead, the Cardinals are left hoping Foley can become the kind of difference-maker Johnson has become in Eugene.
In Other News...
Brian Brohms Camp Praise Came With One Louisville Concern
Louisvilles fourth day of fall camp leaned toward the encouraging side, especially for the quarterbacks, as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm said the room has shown both depth and steady improvement. Under hot conditions, the Cardinals kept working through positional growth, with Brohm pointing to starter Lincoln Kienholz, transfer Davin Wydner and freshman Briggs Cherry as part of a group that has handled the early test of camp in a way that should help the offense settle in.
The one concern hanging over the practice field was Isaac Brown, who took part in some early reps before moving to work with a trainer. Brown remains a central piece of Louisvilles offensive picture, so any interruption to his camp rhythm matters, especially with the quarterback group still building timing and comfort across the offense. Brohms optimism about Browns progress offered some reassurance, but the Cardinals will be watching closely to see how quickly he gets back into the full flow of team work. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Could Still Add The Piece That Changes Everything
Louisville has already leaned heavily on the transfer portal this offseason, building what looks like a deeper and more competitive roster for the next few seasons. Even with that work largely done, the Cardinals now have a new wrinkle to consider after the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to the class of 2022, opening the door for more experienced talent to come back to college and reshuffle the market.
Among the names drawing attention is Seth Trimble, with Louisville reported to be one of the programs showing interest. Trimble spent time in the NBA Summer League and is still sorting out whether his next step will be professional basketball or a return to the college game, leaving the Cardinals in a familiar spot for this time of year: positioned near the front of the conversation while the rest of the decision remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Is Getting The Kind Of Preseason Buzz Fans Craved
Preseason lists do not decide anything, but they do say plenty about how a program is being viewed heading into August, and Louisville is finally getting the kind of attention its fans have been waiting for. Joel Klatt put the Cardinals at No. 19 in his 2026 preseason top 25, a nod to Jeff Brohms work and the steadiness Louisville has shown under him, with nine-win seasons becoming the baseline rather than the exception.
The buzz is not just about what Brohm has already built, either. Louisville backed it up with one of the nations best Transfer Portal hauls, adding quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and running back Isaac Brown to a roster that now has real ACC contender language attached to it. The early test will come quickly, with Ole Miss waiting on opening weekend, and that kind of spotlight will tell a lot about whether the Cardinals are ready to turn preseason optimism into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]