Louisville football adds rising 2021 defensive lineman Ryheem Craig

Louisville football landed its 7th commit of the 2021 class in defensive end Ryheem Craig.

Scott Satterfield has been regarded as one of the best talent evaluators in the nation, proficient in bringing in under-the-radar guys with the potential to develop into something special. That notion was put on display once again as Louisville football landed rising 2021 defensive end Ryheem Craig, who committed via Instagram on Thursday afternoon.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound North Carolina native is rated as the 1380th-best prospect in the country according to 247Sports, and the 56th-best defensive end.

One of Satterfield’s main recruiting goals since he took over as head coach of the Cardinals was to replenish the trenches with more depth and talent.

Furthermore, the staff has put an increased amount of emphasis on bringing in edge rushers that can get after the quarterback. Top-500 defensive end Victoine Brown is already in the 2021 class, and adding Craig is a good start to filling the class with quality pieces on the defensive line.

After getting hacked last week on Twitter, Craig apologized for a tweet from his account that announced his commitment to Satterfield’s staff. However, the destination did not waver, despite surges from opposing teams. Louisville beat out Illinois, NC State, and a group of others for the 3-star’s services; the Cardinals rise up to 45th in the 2021 team recruiting rankings (247Sports) with seven pledges.

Watch: Ryheem Craig junior highlight tape

Despite his lower ranking, Cardinal fans should be ecstatic with Craig’s potential. A diamond in the rough-type recruit, he recorded 89 tackles (21.5 for loss) to go along with 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. So what dos he bring to the table for Louisville? Craig is a hard-hitting edge rusher with an explosive first step and notable burst. He will need to add weight to be able to leave his mark on the field, but he is very strong for his 212-lb frame. One of the most impressive aspects of Craig’s game is his ability to read opposing quarterbacks and watch plays develop; he has a knack for getting involved in the play in a variety of different ways.

Related: Louisville football lands 2021 defensive standout Ben Perry

At the very least, Craig will be valuable depth for a Louisville defense that desperately needs it. Defensive coordinator Bryan Brown has expressed his desire to have a defense that plays fast and gets to the ball quickly; it’s safe to say that Craig fits that mold.