Louisville football: Five must-have defensive recruits in 2021

Prince Kollie – OLB

6’1, 200-pounds – Jonesborough, TN

National ranking: 300

Position ranking: 20

If you aren’t familar with Prince Kollie, do me a favor; click open a new tab on your internet browser and find the outside linebacker’s highlights.. Got ’em? Watch those and then come back.

Excited?

Good, you should be. Do you know who else is excited about those highlights? Literally every major school across the country. In fact, ranked as the 300th best player in the country, Kollie has the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Ole Miss, and others attempting to land a commitment.

Louisville football has put in tons of work over the last several months building a relationship with Kollie, one of the nation’s top outside linebackers, and because of it, they find themselves in the thick of a race with elite programs. It’s these recruiting battles that already show how the football staff has elevated recruiting and the fact they are even being considered just two years away from a 2-10 season is a miracle.

Make no mistake, this is no charity race. Louisville has done everything possible to find themselves here and according to 247 Sports Football Recruiting Analyst, Steve Wiltfong, the Cards find themselves in a place to beat out those schools.

Kollie told Wiltfong on what he likes about Louisville, “The fact that they have some players I feel like have the same mindset as me and just the turnaround season they had with a new staff and how much of a priority I am for them from what they have showed me.”

Here’s what 247Sports had to say in regards to Kollie’s game:

"“Fearless player. Tackles face first and will sell out to make a play. Takes on blockers with physicality. Has some pass rush ability and closing speed in pursuit. Usage on offense shows ball skills and quicks after the catch. Feel in underneath coverage feeling routes and affecting the throw. Finds the football. Mediocre competition and size create some questions. May need to be a safety on the next level. Could be an elite linebacker with the right physical development but is a potential tweener. Valuable defensive talent with a defensive coordinator that uses him appropriately with NFL Draft upside.“"

At 6’1, 200-pounds Kollie fits the mold of the players the staff has prioritized this summer due to his length, frame, speed, and versatility. He has game-changing speed for his position with arms that good friend Keith Wynne describes as “comical” and where he excels most is playing in space. Whether it’s blitzing the quarterback or having to turn on the gas to pursue a running back or receiver, Kollie can do it.

This would be a massive get for the staff.