Louisville football: Josh “Big Country” Griffis adds star power to 2020

“Big Country” is on his way to play for the Louisville football program.

Scott Satterfield and the new Louisville football staff have proven time and time again that they are closers. What do I mean when I say that?

Christian Fitzpatrick. Jordan Watkins. Lovie Jenkins. Nick Malito. All of those players were committed elsewhere at some point during the 2020 recruiting cycle. Despite the issues and preconceived notions about Louisville and their disastrous 2-10 schedule that lingered on the recruiting trail, Satterfield and company were able to capitalize on players who were committed elsewhere but saw “greener grass” in Louisville.

You can add a new name to that list as Louisville football landed their 24th commitment in the class of 2020 when IMG Academy defensive end Josh Griffis announced he’d committed to the Cards on Sunday via Twitter. This came on the heels of the three-star lineman announcing his intention to back off his pledge to Florida State amidst the fallout of the firing of Willie Taggart.

Griffis is a name that you may be with familar with as he took an official visit to campus the weekend of Louisville’s blow out victory to Miami. He returned just a few weeks later on an unofficial visit to see the Cards on senior day against Syracuse.

We’ve known that Griffis was shaky on his commitment to Florida State after Taggart was fired, leaving the future of the remaining personnel up in the air. That allowed for Louisville to get their foot back in the door and take advantage of the relationship that they had built with Griffis while he was committed to FSU.

So what will defensive coordinator Bryan Brown and defensive line coach be getting in Griffis?

Exactly what they desperately need. A big-time run-stuffer who will provide versatility and instant playmaking.

Griffis is a physical, athletic, and fairly quick defensive end who should be able to play in both spots on the defensive line in Brown’s defense. He’s a competitor who plays with an edge all the time using his motor to blow up plays by opposing offenses.

Playing for IMG Academy, a national football powerhouse, Griffis has played against some of the best competition that high school football has to offer and he’s been dominant, proving why he’s ranked as a top 35 defense end in the country.

Griffis’ is Louisville’s 24th commitment and joins Henry Bryant, Dezmond Tell, Jared Dawson, and potentially 2019 commitment and non-qualifier, Ja’Darien Boykin as incoming players on the defensive line.

Ivey needs physical, versatile, and athletic players and that’s exactly what he’ll be getting with the Cards four 2020 defensive line recruits. Louisville struggled upfront in 2019 not only with physicality from opposing offensive lines but their bigger problem was fatigue.

Adding fresh legs and able bodies from extremely talented players, Louisville will be in a great spot to compete defensive like you’d expect to see.

The future is bright folks. Go Cards.