Louisville Lands In-State Lineman With Big Upside in Taylor County’s Close
Louisville continues to build from within, securing a commitment from one of Kentucky’s top high school prospects in Taylor County’s Close - a 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman who brings both size and versatility to the Cardinals’ 2025 class.
Close did double duty for Taylor County, anchoring the offensive line while also making his presence felt on defense. He helped power the Cardinals to a 7-0 start in his senior season before the team stumbled late, dropping its final four contests.
Still, Close’s individual impact was undeniable. He earned All-District honors and played a key role in an offense that piled up more than 3,000 total yards, including 2,203 on the ground.
That kind of production doesn’t happen without a dominant presence in the trenches - and Close was that guy.
Defensively, he chipped in 37 tackles and four tackles for loss as a senior, following up a junior campaign in which he posted 59 tackles and 14.5 TFLs. That two-way toughness is part of what makes him such an intriguing long-term piece for Louisville. Whether he sticks on the offensive line or gets a look on defense, his physicality and motor jump off the tape.
From a recruiting standpoint, Close had a solid list of suitors. He held offers from East Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Liberty, Howard, Penn, Ohio, Colgate, and UMass before ultimately committing to the Cardinals on April 29. Louisville tight ends coach Richard Owens led the charge here, identifying Close as a priority after seeing him in camp and then again during an in-person workout.
That personal connection clearly mattered. “It’s a great relationship with Coach Owens,” Close said.
“I have a lot of trust in him, and a lot of other guys up there I stay in contact with. It was awesome - he came down to see me, and I did a workout for him, and he liked me.
He said he had to go talk to Coach Brohm, but once he did, they offered me. I feel so strongly about that school, it was an opportunity that I wanted to jump on right away.”
Close isn’t expected to enroll until late May, but once he arrives in Louisville, he’ll bring the kind of frame and raw strength that could allow him to compete for playing time early. At 6'6", 300 pounds, he already has the physical tools to hold his own at the college level - now it’s about refining technique and adjusting to the speed of the game.
For Louisville, this is a classic case of identifying in-state talent with high upside and getting in early. The staff saw Close up close, liked what they saw, and moved quickly to secure his commitment. If his development matches his potential, Close could become a key piece of the Cardinals’ offensive front in the years to come.