Louisville Football’s Transfer Portal Watch (Nov. 30)
As the portal is set to open on December 5th, in less than a week away, the line continues to get longer outside of the portal for the Louisville Cardinals. The transfer portal has opened unprecedented doors for college students seeking playing time or today’s world money through NIL deals.
The historic path of remaining with one college for several years despite having hardships has passed and players now have the opportunity to go anywhere in the nation and call it home. As for Louisville, it is no different than any other school.
Here is a list of Louisville players who have entered their name into the Transfer Portal thus far:
Jalen Mitchell
Prior to the 2021 season, Mitchell was acknowleged nationally as a running back who possessed elite potential and talent as he earned a spot on the Preseason Doak Walker Award list.
A former three-star prospect out of Rockledge High School in Florida, Mitchell committed to the Cardinals on February 6, 2019. Just a few months shy of his four year anniversary with the program, the 5-foot-9 running back has seen his time in Louisville, KY come to an end as he made an announcement he will be entering his name into the Transfer Portal this season.
Mitchell only appeared in five games this season and recorded a total of 48 rushing yards. He sustained a leg injury earlier in the season and has seen his status on the depth chart plummet with the emergence of Jawhar Jordan. Tiyon Evans also remains on the roster and five-star recruit Rueben Owens is coming to town in a few short months.
Trevion Cooley
Mitchell’s now former fellow member of the backfield, Trevion Cooley, has also entered his name into the transfer portal. A former four-star prospect out of Knightdale, North Carolina chose the Cardinals over Duke, Florida, Coastal Carolina, among others. Louisville’ running backs coach, De’Rail Sims recruited him heavily to the Cardinals.
However, his short stint in The Ville has come to an end. Just a few months shy of his two year anniversary with the program, Cooley has decided to move forward in his pursuit of the football dream. The 5-foot-10 running back attempted 59 rushes, gained 278 yards, and recorded a pair of touchdowns this season.
Much in the same vein as Mitchell, the talent in the Louisville running back room is deep and Cooley desires to find a school with more opportunity for himself.
Caleb Banks
A three-star defensive lineman product out of Southfield, Michigan, Banks saw his playing time on the field about as brief as his time here on campus. Since committing to the Cardinals on Halloween in 2020, he has only appeared in seven total games across two seasons.
This season he recorded his first sack this season as well as forced a fumble. The progress from his one-game appearance in 2021 was exponential, however he did not see a future as a member of the Cardinals.
Derrick Edwards III
A former three-star prospect out of Cocoa, Florida has now entered his name into the transfer portal as he announced via his Twitter account. Redshirted as a freshman, Edwards never saw the playing field in Cardinal Stadium during his time here.
With the emergences of Josh Minkins, Benjamin Perry, and MJ Griffin, the opportunity for Edwards seemed to continue to dwindle, ultimately leading him to leave the Louisville program.
Nicario Harper
A former two-star prospect out of Atlanta, Georgia, Harper has been a main-stay in the transfer portal thorughout his collegiate career. He initially spent two seasons at Southern Mississippi before transferring to Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Harper was the first to announce his name into the transfer portal as he did it back in October. He hopes to continue his playing career with another program and achieve the kind of success he had with Jacksonville State.