The transfer portal officially opened this morning, and players from all over the country are entering their names. The Cardinals have some glaring areas they need to address, with the most significant concern being their secondary.
Louisville football lost four of their top five defensive backs from last season, making this area a must-grab in the spring transfer portal. The portal will remain open for 10 days and close on April 25.
Louisville football fans have been excited for the spring transfer portal to open as the Cardinals faithful want Brohm to take this program to the next level. Louisville must target elite defensive backs in the portal for the Cardinals to be an elite team next year and top of the ACC standings.
2 Dream, 2 reach, 2 realistic defensive back targets for Louisville football in the transfer portal
The best way to reach that elite status and to compete for the ACC crown is to go all-in this spring in the 10-day transfer portal. Since the portal opened, Louisville football must start reaching out and addresssing their weaknesses.
So, we are here to break down two dreams, reach, and realistic defensive back transfer portal targets for Louisville football.
6. Dream - Julian Neal
Julian Neal is a 4-star cornerback in the spring transfer portal and one of the best players. The former Fresno State corner committed to the Stanford Cardinal just this past winter, but he didn't stay long, as he just re-entered his name.
Neal must be a player that Jeff Brohm goes after, but he will be a dream target. The Cardinals' secondary needs a ballhawk, and someone who can be their lockdown defender, and this Fresno State transfer is exactly that player.
Last season with the Bulldogs, he secured 22 solo tackles, five pass breakups, and two interceptions. He took a massive jump from his sophomore year and has the full potential to be the Cardinal's No. 1 corner in their thin secondary. Louisville added some defensive backs from the portal in December. Still, the addition of Neal would not only skyrocket their depth immediately, but he would provide much-needed experience in this secondary.
Last season, Neal recorded five tackles or more in three games, including his career-high nine tackles against Air Force. This 4-star corner would be a massive get for Brohm's defense and a great Quincy Riley replacement.
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5. Reach - Gregory Smith III
Gregory Smith III was an elite 4-star athlete out of high school and is expected to be one of the top defensive backs in this spring's transfer portal. Smith is transferring out of Florida, and while he was a 4-star out of high school, his current transfer portal rating puts him as a 3-star.
However, that does not mean his ceiling is still not high. Smith was one of the top defensive backs in his class and one of the best-skilled players, as he was a consensus top-30 safety and was top 15 in the athletic category. On3 saw the most potential in him as they ranked him the highest in the class 2024 at No. 261.
Smith won't bring much experience as he was just a true freshman last year, saw only 49 snaps, and totaled just three tackles last season for the Gators. However, he has four years of eligibility and is exceptionally skilled as a football player with tremendous instincts and a big frame.
The 6-foot-4, 211-pound defensive back is extremely strong and physical for a defensive back, and he has the instincts to be a ball hawk in the back, as he was a quarterback in high school. He is still learning the position, but the potential and ceiling are extremely high, making him a must-target for Brohm and the Cardinals.
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4. Realistic - Zion Ferguson
The main reason North Carolina transfer Zion Ferguson is a realistic target is that Louisville was one of the main teams that went after this elite cornerback when he was in high school. The former Tar Heel entered the portal late last night and raised many eyebrows. He was a top cornerback out of high school and received 40 offers.
The 6'0, 165-pound cornerback was a top player out of high school. According to On3, he was ranked the No. 532 overall recruit and the No. 56 cornerback in his class. His ability to shut receivers down while tracking the ball is one glaring reason he was an Under Armour All-American in high school.
Now, this will be a tough player for Louisville as Ferguson is expected to be recruited by elite programs like Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, and many more. However, this is a realistic target because if Brohm can get a hold of the North Carolina transfer and pitch that he would immediately impact this team and be CB1 for Louisville, it would be a pitch this other schools can't say.
Ferguson is a redshirt freshman with all four years of eligibility left. This is an elite playmaker for the defense that can impact Brohm's secondary immediately but also be a player for the future. The Cardinals must go after this young corner, as he is ranked as the No. 11 best cornerback in the portal right now.
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3. Dream - Terrance Love
Terrance Love, an elite 4-star safety transfer from Auburn, is a dream target for this Louisville secondary school. According to On3 Sports, the Auburn transfer is ranked as the safest available.
The 6-foot-2 junior transfer was a unanimous 4-star out of high school and was ranked the No. 26 best safety in the class of 2023 and ranked No. 284 overall by 247Sports Composite. His ability to be versatile in the secondary with his impressive speed at his frame is why he was ranked in Rivals, 24/7Sports, and ESPN's top 25 for the skilled position and top 35 from the state of Georgia.
In his senior year of high school, he secured an impressive 69 tackles and showcased his elite playmaking in the secondary. His ability to play physically and locate the ball to impact plays is why he is a must-target for Brohm and the Cardinals. Love will bring some experience to the Cardinal's secondary as in his true freshman season, he played in every game and secured six tackles and a pass breakup.
This will be a dream target for the Cardinals' secondary, but if Louisville were able to bring in Love somehow, the Cardinal's safety position and defensive back depth would take a massive step forward
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2. Reach - Chris Joines
The Cardinals could use physical safety to track the ball well but also force some turnovers, and the Mercer transfer is the perfect fit for this need. Chris Joines is a safety transfer out of Mercer, and he seems to be the type of player Brohm will love to go after, as in the December portal, the Cardinals didn't go after many Power 4 players transferring and targeted those under-the-radar players.
The 6-foot-3 195-pound safety will bring much needed expereince to this Cardinals secondary as he will be a senior next season after his massive 2024 season. The Mercer transfer logged 70 tackles, with 32 of them solos, while also earning two pass breakups, one forced fumble and one interception.
Joines will be a big target for Brohm as he will be one of these under-the-radar safeties in the portal, and while his competition wasn't the best, 70 tackles in a season is a glaring stat that Louisville should be interested in.
Louisville needs a difference maker in their secondary, and after losing four of their top five players in the defensive back room, Brohm should be reaching out to every corner and safety, including Joines.
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1. Realistic - Derek Ganter Jr.
Derek Ganter Jr. is a safety transfer from Eastern Washington who has showcased his skills immediately during his young collegiate career. The 6-foot 188-pound safety transfer could be one of the Cardinal's main priorities in this transfer portal, as he is the exact type of player that Brohm has recruited in the past.
Ganter led Eastern Washington in tackles last year, earning 95 total and 55 solo. The freshman received multiple awards last year as he secured a spot on the FCS Football Central 2024 Freshman All-American Team and was named to the Big Sky All-Conference second team as a true freshman.
The Eagles transfer will be a player that might get some big names reaching out to him. Still, if Brohm and his staff can emphasize that he will be an elite defender in this thin defensive back room and make him their main priority, the Cardinals coaching staff should be able to be a top target for Ganter.