Three days into fall camp, Louisville’s defensive end room is already backing up the preseason buzz. That group has been tagged as a strength, and with All-ACC selection Clev Lubin leading the way, the Cardinals are leaning into a pass-rush unit built around consistency and pressure.
Before camp opened, head coach Jeff Brohm didn’t hide how he views that position group. He called the depth and talent at defensive end “ legitimate.”
"Without question we'll move those guys to try to get them all on the field at the same time," Brohm said. "They're all playmakers and I think they all can really disrupt things for an offense and really stand out for us."
Lubin is joined by veterans AJ Green and Micah Carter, and Louisville also added help through Tyler Thompson, who transferred in from North Carolina, along with former Kentucky edge Jerod Smith II. Those additions give the Cardinals a deeper rotation and more options to keep the pressure on.
On the third day of camp, UofL co-defensive coordinator/DL coach Mark Ivey said the energy has stood out.
"Playing with a lot of energy and having a lot of fun, I think, or at least they act like they are," Ivey said. "Hopefully they'll continue to improve.
Got a lot of stuff we're going continue to work on, no doubt. But as long as they're playing with high energy, we feel like we can teach them and coach them and get them to where they need to be."
In Other News...
Pat Kelseys Next Recruiting Push Could Put Louisville In The Mix
Pat Kelsey has wasted little time trying to widen Louisvilles recruiting footprint, and the early push has stretched well beyond the class of 2027. The Cardinals have been in on a group of high-end targets that includes five-star prospects Reese Alston, Demarcus Henry and Darius Wabbington, a sign that Kelsey and his staff are aiming high as they build for the next wave of roster talent.
One of the more intriguing names on the board is Benjamin Berrouet, a nationally ranked five-star power forward in the class of 2028 who has already drawn attention from several major programs. Louisville assistant Ronnie Hamilton recently got a closer look at Berrouet during a FIBA U16 event, another indication that the Cardinals are trying to stay ahead of the curve with younger elite prospects before the race for his commitment really heats up. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Just Made A Move For An Elite Young Big Man
Benji Berrouets stock keeps rising, and Louisville has made sure it is firmly in the mix. The 2028 composite five-star big man put together a dominant showing for Latvia in a FIBA U16 competition in Romania, piling up 33 points and 22 rebounds, while Cardinals assistant Ronnie Hamilton was on hand to watch. Berrouet has been on Louisvilles radar since the NBPA Top 100 camp, and the programs interest has now moved beyond observation.
The next part figures to get crowded in a hurry. Berrouet is weighing a national list of heavy hitters that also includes Baylor, Texas, UCLA, Miami, Kentucky, Arkansas, Houston and USC, and he plans to line up visits soon. For Louisville, landing in that conversation at this stage is the kind of early step that matters, especially with an elite young frontcourt talent whose recruitment is only beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Kelsey Is Chasing A Shooting Fix Louisville Still Needs
Pat Kelsey is still working through the kind of roster-building puzzle every college coach now lives with, and Louisvilles latest need is obvious enough. A recent eligibility ruling giving seniors a fifth year has only added another layer of uncertainty, so Kelsey said the staff has to stay vigilant while looking for pieces that fit what the Cardinals still need on the floor.
One of those pieces appears to be shooting, and Louisville has been linked to a player who could help right away. Cade Tyson, a Minnesota transfer known for his 3-point touch, took a big step forward offensively last season and would give the Cardinals a different look on the perimeter. The interest makes sense, even if the final answer on where he lands is still very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]