Louisville didn’t just dip into the Transfer Portal this offseason - they dove in headfirst and came out with a completely retooled roster. With 30 new commitments, Jeff Brohm and his staff tackled one of the most daunting rebuilds in the country and came away with a group that looks ready to make noise in the ACC.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Brohm had his work cut out for him. The Cardinals lost their starting quarterback, top two wideouts, the bulk of their offensive line, their top two defensive tackles, and four of their top five defensive backs.
That’s the kind of roster turnover that can send a program into a full reset. Instead, Louisville hit the gas and never looked back once the portal opened on January 2.
The result? A top-five ranking in On3 Sports’ 2026 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings - sitting at No. 5 overall - and a spot just outside the top 10 on their “Biggest Winners” board, coming in at No. 13 as an honorable mention. Sure, they didn’t crack the top 10 list that featured names like LSU, Texas, and Miami, but let’s be real - this haul deserves serious respect.
Brohm didn’t just fill holes - he upgraded. At quarterback, he brought in Lincoln Kienholz, a former 4-star recruit with high-end upside. To help him out, the Cardinals added two dynamic 4-star receivers in Lawayne McCoy and Tre Richardson, the latter rated as Louisville’s top transfer pickup.
Up front, Brohm went after experience and got it. Former Boston College starter Eryx Daugherty and ex-South Carolina lineman Cason Henry bring proven Power Five reps to a rebuilt offensive line.
And the ground game? It’s in good hands.
Isaac Brown, the No. 1 running back in the portal when he announced, decided to stay home. He’ll be joined by Keyjuan Brown and 4-star transfer Marquise Davis - a trio that gives Louisville one of the more intriguing backfields in the ACC.
Defensively, the Cardinals didn’t just reload - they stacked depth. On the edge, they landed former 4-star talents Jerod Smith II and Tyler Thompson.
Inside, Demeco Kennedy, Joshua Donald, and Tommy Ziesmer step in to replace key departures like Jordan Guerad and Rene Konga. But the biggest splash on that side of the ball?
That would be Koen Entringer, a high-level safety transfer who instantly elevates the secondary.
And it wasn’t just about bringing in new faces. Brohm and his staff managed to keep some crucial pieces in-house.
Edge rushers AJ Green and Clev Lubing return, and the linebacker group gets a major boost with the return of Stanquan Clark, Antonio Watts, and TJ Capers. That kind of continuity - paired with the fresh talent - gives this defense a real shot to be something special.
Now, you can make a case that Louisville should’ve been higher on On3’s “Biggest Winners” list - maybe even in over a team like Virginia Tech. But rankings aside, the bigger takeaway is this: Louisville looks ready to compete.
They’ve got speed, physicality, depth, and playmakers on both sides of the ball. Brohm has built a roster that isn’t just patched together - it’s constructed to win.
And if you needed any more validation, take a look at ESPN’s way-too-early rankings, where the Cardinals sit as high as No. 14.
That’s not a fluke. That’s a reflection of the work done this offseason - a rebuild that turned into a reload, and maybe even something more.
Louisville isn’t just surviving the portal era - they’re thriving in it.