Louisville football returned to the field this afternoon as the Cardinals had their first spring practice of 2026. The Cardinals have high expectations heading into the 2026 season, with ESPN and others ranking them in the top 25 this offseason.
10 biggest Transfer Portal commitments for Louisville football this offseason
The main reason Louisville has high expectations is the Cardinals' offseason additions. Louisville and Jeff Brohm added 31 transfers from the Transfer Portal this offseason, including multiple 4-stars like Tre Richardson and Lawayne McCoy. Louisville is going to look much different, but they were able to keep some proven stars like Isaac Brown, AJ Green, and Clev Lubin.
And now with spring practice officially here, let's take a look at three Cardinals with the most to prove this spring.
3. D.J. Waller
Louisville football will need a big spring from Kentucky transfer, DJ Waller. The Cardinals' secondary took a hit, losing multiple starters from last season, including key pieces Jabari Mack and Rodney Johnson Jr. Brohm added multiple players in his secondary this offseason, but Waller is one many will keep an eye on as he has had a hard time staying on the field.
The 6-foot-3, 203-pound cornerback played in just seven games total with the Wildcats across two seasons, where he logged 13 tackles and two pass breakups. He initially committed to Michigan, where he won the 2023 National Championship, playing in 11 games and recording 12 tackles and a pass breakup in his true freshman season. Now, Louisville hopes the Kentucky transfer can stay healthy this season and be a key starter on the Cardinals' defense in their new secondary under Steve Ellis.
2. Joshua Donald
Louisville had to fill the interior of the defensive line after losing Rene Konga, Jordan Guerad, Denzel Lowry, and Jerry Lawson. Louisville added a handful of replacements, but one we are keeping an eye on and think could be the starter in Week 1 is Joshua Donald. The Houston transfer didn’t play last year, but in 2024, he was a dominant force at nose tackle for Appalachian State.
Donald went on to secure 32 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and 1 forced fumble for the Mountaineers. After sitting out in 2025, he is expected to take the next step and be a force in the Cardinals' middle, as he was at Appalachian State. While we hope Donald separates himself from the pack and proves a lot this offseason, it's worth noting that if he doesn’t, Louisville has other options in Miami transfer Daylen Russell, Purdue transfer Demeco Kennedy, and Eastern Kentucky transfer Tommy Ziesmer.
Way-too-early Louisville football 2026 game-by-game predictions
1. Lincoln Kienholz
Louisville added a lot this offseason, but the one they are most excited to see this spring is their new QB1, Lincoln Kienholz. The Cardinals went the Transfer Portal route for the fourth straight season under Brohm, and while Kienholz doesn’t have much experience, he has a high ceiling.
The 3-star transfer committed to Ohio State, ranked as a 4-star recruit after throwing 9,100 yards and 104 touchdowns in his high school career. He was ranked No. 172 in the 2023 cycle and No. 11 among quarterbacks. He is now expected to be Louisville’s star quarterback after being ranked No. 160 in the portal and No. 18 among quarterbacks. The Cards' offense is loaded with potential, but as the fans saw last year, Brohm and Louisville need a QB who can go out and win games. This spring, Louisville will learn a lot about its new quarterback.