The Louisville football team had three players throw their name into the transfer portal on Monday.
With the season now officially coming to a close, the Louisville football roster is down for some turnover. That process began just two days after the team’s season finale win over Wake Forest.
Jawon Pass, a redshirt senior fresh off of his celebration on senior day, has decided to move on from the program and seek a school to take him in on his sixth year of eligibility.
2016 4-star QB Jawon Pass has entered the portal as a grad transfer after 2,545 yards and 14 TD during his #GoCards career; rushed for 255 yards and 5 TD @rivalsmike @RivalsWoody @UofLRivals https://t.co/5eup3oglK8
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) December 14, 2020
Pass was the starting quarterback to begin the 2018 season against Alabama after Lamar Jackson departed. He started most of the season that year throwing for 1,960 yards and eight touchdowns.
The former four star recruit never seemed to develop in the ways that many hoped. Pass is built like the perfect quarterback with plenty of athleticism. Putting it all together was the biggest struggle for Pass as he tried to develop into Louisville’s next great quarterback after Jackson departed.
Pass was ranked as the No. 3 dual threat quarterback coming out of high school in 2016, per 247 Sports. He was a model player for the program and despite very limited reps in his last two seasons with the program, he still stuck around and seemed like a positive presence.
The Cardinals lost another former starter to the portal on Monday as redshirt junior and former starting corner Anthony Johnson decided to take his career in a new direction.
God plan 🙏🏾 #ShramFree pic.twitter.com/haIImjEbvi
— Anthony Johnson Jr. (Shram) (@aj_ballout) December 14, 2020
Johnson graduated this month and, at times, was a solid contributor for the Cardinals. He simply got pushed further down the depth chart with players like Kei’Trel Clark and Marlon Character emerging in 2020.
Most of Johnson’s reps came as a sophomore in 2019 when he played in nine games and had 27 total tackles, six passes defended, three forced fumbles, and an interception.
Overall, he had 43 total tackles, 13 passes defended, and two interceptions in his career for the Cardinals.
The 6’2″ defensive back and former three star recruit out of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida should find a landing spot sooner rather than later. Johnson was another positive presence for the Cardinals who could be seen celebrating just a couple of days ago with teammates on the way to their win.
Sophomore wide receiver Micah Lowe, a walk-on out of Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington, Kentucky has also put his name in to the portal according to a report.
FYI, Louisville DB Anthony Johnson has entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. Also, walk-on WR Micah Lowe has entered the portal.
— Jody Demling (@jdemling) December 14, 2020
The 5’10” 175-pound Lowe never recorded a stat for the Cardinals.
Pass and Johnson are former Bobby Petrino recruits that are looking for another opportunity for more playing time, and it is hard to blame them for that. Both players are former starters that were valuable depth to the team regardless of if they played a lot in 2020 or not.
There will likely be more to come as players look for their next opportunity to get their chance as a player. Remember, seniors in 2020 are allowed to save a year of eligibility which is why Pass is able to look elsewhere for another opportunity.
With the early signing period for the class of 2021 coming up, look for plenty of news between the transfer portal and recruiting in the coming days.