Louisville football: Legacy recruit trending to the Cards

Louisville football may be on commit watch.

Scott Satterfield, ShaDon Brown, and the entire Louisville football defensive staff have done an incredible job recruiting the safety position in the class of 2021.

As if what the Cards already have in hand for the class wasn’t enough, things got even more encouraging when a prominent recruiting expert put a crystal ball pick in for a rising three-star safety.

Four-star Benjamin Perry and three-star Bralyn Oliver are both set to play for Louisville starting in 2021, giving Bryan Brown two big (6’3,190-pounds & 6’2, 195-pounds respectively), fast, and versatile playmakers in the back end. You’d think after adding those two along with Josh Minkins and Lovie Jenkins 2020 that the staff would be done at the position – but in the words of Lee Corso, “not so fast, my friends.”

The name TJ Quinn first emerged on the Louisville radar early last month, when Satterfield and company officially threw their name into the ring with a group of ACC programs including Syracuse, Boston College, North Carolina State, and Virginia Tech. Thanks to one existing connection to the program, Louisville quickly shot up his list of schools and now look primed to land the Georgia safety.

Louisville football in hot pursuit of legacy recruit

So, the existing connection to the program you ask? Just like we saw with four-star outside linebacker Jaraye Williams, the son of former Louisville basketball star Terrence Williams, Quinn’s connection comes through his father, Terry Quinn. The name may sound familar as Quinn is a former Cardinal himself who suited up in the 90s as a running back and defensive back playing in 37 career games.

Quinn told Cardinal Authority:

“It’s special. We always watched Louisville. It’s special because I would have a chance to play there just like he did and that would be nice.”

Louisville is in the thick of competitive recruitment that has left many split on where he may officially end up, with Virginia Tech being the other common prediction. A new crystal ball projection from 247 Sports’ Steve Wiltfong has shed new light on the direction of Quinn’s recruitment and things are looking good for Louisville.

Also read: What four-star linebacker Jaraye Williams brings to Louisville 

Wiltfong joined Cardinal Authority’s Jody Demling and Michael McCammon as well as NC State Insider R. Corey Smith with a final prediction of Quinn to Louisville, and while there is one Virginia Tech projection that was logged way back in March.

The timeline of the crystal ball projection likely means that Quinn is heading down the stretch towards an official commitment, which would match the timeline he gave to CardinalSports.com Recruiting Insider, Dave Lackford.

"“I’ve been talking to people lately telling them I plan on committing in June or July so I think that’s why they changed their picks. I don’t have a definite date when I’m going to decide yet but I’ll say it will probably be at the end of June.”"

Quinn is a versatile safety who will be capable of playing both positions for back ends coach ShaDon Brown and will bring speed, athleticism, sound tackling, and great range to a group that desperately needs more help.

The rankings haven’t quite caught up to the talent and projection of Quinn, who comes by way of Valdosta, Georgia – a city and community known for producing great football players in years past. 247 Sports composite ranks Quinn outside the top 1,000 players nationally at no. 1,163, while sitting as the 95th best safety and 92nd best player in the state of Georgia. You’ll likely see Quinn get a Bralyn Oliver-like jump at the next evaluation point.

Perry, Oliver, and Quinn will give Louisville some incredibly talented athletes who not only could develop into NFL caliber players but also could provide instant impact from the get-go.

Commitment number 13 could be in the Cards.