Louisville’s 2026 recruiting class may not have cracked the top 25, but make no mistake - the Cardinals brought in some serious talent. Ranked No. 31 nationally, it’s the program’s best haul since 2023, and there’s plenty of buzz surrounding several key names. But one true freshman is already starting to separate himself, turning heads before he’s even played a down: tight end Julius Miles.
Let’s start with the basics. Miles is a 6-foot-6, 210-pound matchup nightmare who came to Louisville as a 4-star prospect with serious upside.
He was recruited as both a wide receiver and a tight end - and with good reason. His high school résumé reads like something out of a video game: 158 catches, 2,809 yards, and 27 touchdowns over his career.
That includes a senior season where he racked up 62 receptions for 1,176 yards and 12 scores, with five games over the 100-yard mark. In one of those, he torched a defense for 201 yards and four touchdowns on just nine catches.
That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed. Miles had offers from a host of Power Four programs - Colorado, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Mississippi State, and more - but chose Louisville, and it looks like the Cardinals are already reaping the rewards.
Head coach Jeff Brohm didn’t hold back when talking about the freshman on Tuesday. “We got a true freshman, Julius Miles, who can run, catch, and is a big target,” Brohm said.
“Man, he is a really good athlete. So, we are going to try and get him on the field early.”
That last part? That’s the key.
Brohm’s not just impressed - he’s already planning for Miles to see the field early. That’s not something you hear every day about a first-year tight end, especially in a room that includes a 4-star transfer in Brody Foley and a key returner in Jaleel Skinner.
But Miles is clearly doing something right.
His versatility is part of what makes him so intriguing. Depending on the recruiting service, he was ranked No. 57 among wide receivers (per 247 Sports) and No. 21 among tight ends (according to Rivals). That hybrid skill set gives Brohm flexibility - he can line up Miles in multiple spots, create mismatches, and stretch defenses in ways that few freshmen can.
Of course, there’s still development ahead. Brohm noted that Miles will need to add some muscle to hold up in the tight end role at the college level.
But that’s to be expected. What matters more is that the foundation is there - size, speed, hands, and football IQ - and the coaching staff is already confident enough to start building on it.
For a Louisville team looking to make noise in the ACC, having a weapon like Miles emerge early could be a game-changer. He’s got the tools to contribute right away, and if his early offseason performance is any indication, he’s well on his way to carving out a role in this offense.
Louisville fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about this recruiting class. But keep an eye on Julius Miles - because if his high school dominance and early camp buzz are any indication, the Cardinals might’ve just landed a future star.