Micah Newsome didn’t wait long after his announcement to explain why he changed course. The 2027 linebacker from Christian Academy of Louisville flipped his commitment from Western Kentucky to Louisville on Monday, and the local prospect said the Cardinals simply gave him a chance worth taking.
“Growing up, I always had the mentality to shoot for the highest and see what comes. I didn't want to limit myself to anything,” Newsome said.
“It was a little bit of a slower process with Louisville than I thought it might have been. I keep putting in the work every day.”
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker said Louisville’s executive director of football Vince Marrow recently extended a full-ride scholarship, and that offer pushed the decision across the line. Newsome also pointed to the relationship he’s built with the staff, especially Marrow and Jeff Brohm.
“Vince Marrow has shown nothing but love for me. Ever since the beginning of the year, he's continued to say that they love me and they're going to come back around,” Newsome said.
“He and [Jeff] Brohm have been nothing but true to me about that. It showed itself when the time came.
I had to seize the opportunity and take what was given to me.”
Newsome said he still hasn’t locked in a gameday visit, but he plans to attend as many Louisville games as he can. He’s also already looking ahead to college life, with a January enrollment on his mind.
“I have the opportunity to get on the field decently early. I'm going to do whatever the team needs me to do,” Newsome said.
“My first year, I'm going to do whatever it takes. It's going to take a while to get onto the field as opposed to a G5 school.
They've told me that I can get on the field pretty early, and I know it's true. I'm a guy who's going to work hard and work my tail off every day.
My mindset is that it's going to be hard, but you have to do something about that opportunity.”
On the field, Newsome brings production that jumps off the page. He finished the 2025 season with a team-high 140 tackles and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 15 games. He also added three sacks and an interception that he took back for a touchdown.
“I’m going to come full speed, nose down,” Newsome said. “If you're in my way, I'm going to make sure that you're going to be out of my way, and I'm going to make the tackle.
I have a nose for the football. I'm going to be wherever the football is.”
Even with that production, Newsome says one area still needs sharpening: pass coverage. For him, that’s the next step, especially with how much college offenses lean on the throw.
“They're passing the ball in college every day, trying to lean more on the pass every day,” he said. “I have to be a two-sided guy.”
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The timing makes the setback sting a little more, because the Cardinals are still trying to stay active with another elite big man in Lewis Uvwo. Louisville has made a late push there, but Duke is currently out front, leaving the Cardinals searching for a way to recover from one miss while trying to keep another high-end option within reach. [Read more 🡒]