Louisville football is making serious noise this offseason-and not just in the ACC. With a top-five transfer class according to On3 Sports and a No. 14 spot in ESPN’s way-too-early rankings, Jeff Brohm has positioned the Cardinals as a legitimate contender heading into 2026. The buzz isn’t just about chasing the program’s first ACC title anymore-it’s about breaking through to the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.
But in today’s college football landscape, roster building is a two-way street. While Louisville has been aggressive in adding talent, they’ve also seen significant turnover.
Twenty-nine players entered the portal this cycle, and 20 have already found new homes. We’ve already tracked the first wave of departures, so now it’s time to take a closer look at the latest five Cardinals who have landed elsewhere-and what their exits mean for the program moving forward.
1. Mason Mims | Quarterback | East Tennessee State
Mims was part of a crowded quarterback room in Louisville, but he had some buzz heading into 2025. A 3-star recruit and the No.
37 QB in his class, Mims was in the mix for the backup job behind center. Jeff Brohm praised his development early on, but with limited opportunities and no game action as a true freshman, he decided to take his talents elsewhere.
He’s now headed to East Tennessee State, joining fellow former Cardinal Xavier Porter. Mims enters the Buccaneers’ program ranked No. 1,709 overall and No. 101 among quarterbacks in the portal. It’s a step down in terms of competition, but it could be the kind of move that gives him the reps he needs to grow.
2. Antonio Meeks | Wide Receiver | Wake Forest
Meeks is one of the more notable skill-position losses for Louisville this offseason. The wide receiver room needed retooling, and Meeks’ departure adds to the urgency. He had a solid 2025 campaign, hauling in 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown-part of a career line that includes 20 receptions, 231 yards, and two scores.
Now, he’s staying within the ACC, committing to Wake Forest. Meeks brings experience and reliability to the Demon Deacons’ offense, and he’s ranked No. 987 overall and No. 164 among wideouts in the portal. For Louisville, it’s a depth hit, but one that can be mitigated if their incoming receivers step up.
3. Fred Johnson | Offensive Line | UConn
Johnson’s move to UConn represents another piece of Louisville’s offensive line turnover. A 3-star recruit from the 2024 class, Johnson came to Louisville with offers from the likes of Kentucky, Pitt, Michigan, Penn State, and Tennessee. That’s not a small-time recruiting profile.
While he didn’t crack the starting lineup in 2025, Johnson still held value as a developmental interior lineman. He’s now off to UConn, ranked No. 2,488 overall and No. 204 among interior OL in the portal. For the Cardinals, it’s a manageable loss, especially with several new linemen already brought in to fortify the trenches.
4. CJ May | EDGE | Missouri
This one stings a bit more. CJ May was a 4-star edge rusher from the 2025 class, and his commitment had Louisville fans excited. He chose the Cards over heavyweights like Clemson, Notre Dame, and Penn State, and came in ranked No. 487 overall and No. 44 among edge defenders.
But with Louisville’s defensive line returning key playmakers like Clev Lubin and AJ Green-and adding impact transfers like Tyler Thompson-May found himself on the outside looking in. He didn’t see the field in 2025, and now he’s headed to Missouri with four years of eligibility still on the table.
He’s currently ranked No. 945 overall and No. 105 at his position in the portal. This is a classic case of a talented player seeking a clearer path to playing time.
5. Jordan Church | Offensive Line | Texas Tech
Now this is the big one. Jordan Church was projected to be a key starter on Louisville’s offensive line in 2026, and his departure to Texas Tech is arguably the team’s most significant loss of the offseason.
At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Church anchored the line in 2025, logging 514 snaps-including 286 in pass protection. The numbers speak for themselves: just one sack allowed and 12 total pressures.
That kind of production is hard to replace. Prior to Louisville, he played at Florida Atlantic, where he gave up only three sacks over 739 snaps.
He’s now ranked No. 111 overall and No. 6 among interior offensive linemen in the portal.
Even with Louisville bringing in multiple linemen to reload the front, losing a player of Church’s caliber creates a real challenge in terms of continuity and leadership up front.
The Bigger Picture
Roster movement is part of the modern game, and Louisville’s offseason has been as active as any in the country. While the outgoing transfers include some promising young talent and a few proven contributors, the Cards have done well to reload through the portal and high school ranks. The key now is how quickly the new faces can gel-and whether Jeff Brohm can turn this reshaped roster into the ACC title contender it looks like on paper.
This isn’t just about replacing bodies. It’s about building a team that can make a real run in 2026. And if the pieces fall into place, Louisville might not just be knocking on the playoff door-they might be ready to kick it down.