DE Ryheem Craig
Craig is the lowest rated player in Louisville’s class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.
The 6’3″ 212-pounder did not play in 2020 due to Covid restrictions at Alexander Central High School in North Carolina.
He already has a nice skillset to work from and his body was strapped together nicely for a high school junior in 2019.
Craig will need some time to put on some more good weight that he has already worked on in the high school game, but he certainly has some intriguing traits.
He is a fine athlete for his size. Craig is not the type of player to blow you away athletically but he is definitely not limited in that regard.
One of the translatable aspects of his game is his ability to keep offensive linemen’s hands off of him. When offensive tackles try to engage with him, he is very good at swiping hands and keeping them off of his pads which will serve him very well at the next level.
The motor behind Craig also shows that he has a willingness to do the dirty work over the course of the game. There are multiple times on his tape where he is chasing down ball carriers or quarterbacks that are well down the field when he gets to them.
I am a big fan of Craig’s game. While you may not see him on the field in 2021, this is a player I like that the staff bet on due to his translatable traits to the next level, excellent frame, and decent athleticism.
Overall
This class is talented. Normally, in any given class, there are a couple of players that you would not consider to be “Louisville caliber” recruits. That is not the case in 2021. As you can see, from top-to-bottom, there is a ton to like about this class and everything it entails from offensive line to defensive backs.
Louisville is in good hands in 2021 and beyond with this group of young players.