Louisville football is coming off another bowl win after the Cardinals defeated Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. Now that it appears Jeff Brohm is staying home and Michigan is hiring Kyle Whittingham, all eyes turn to the Transfer Portal.
The Cardinals have already lost a chunk of players to the portal, including star defensive edge rusher AJ Green and veteran tight end Nate Kurisky. The portal window doesn't officially open until January 2, so Louisville fans and college football fans won't see any commitments until next week. Leading up to it, they will hear who their teams are targeting and who will enter the portal.
With the portal just one week away, Louisville has its eyes on some big-time quarterbacks, but the fans know the biggest area of need is the trenches, especially the offensive line. Just today, a dream player entered the portal, and hopefully Brohm and the Cards circled his name and plan to contact him.
Related: Predicting which Louisville football players leave or stay with the Cardinals
Elite SEC OL becomes top target for Louisville after entering portal
Last year, Louisville's offensive line underperformed, as it was hard to watch this unit try to protect Miller Moss and create holes for the rushing attack. So, with Louisville fans wanting a better unit up front, they are hoping the Cardinals attack the portal, and the Auburn transfer Xavier Chaplin is immediatley their top target.
Louisville will need a left tackle badly, as Trevonte Sylvester and Mahamane Moussa are redshirt seniors. So, now with Louisville searching for a new left tackle, Chaplin emerges at the front of the list.
BREAKING: Auburn starting LT Xavier Chaplin plans to enter the @TransferPortal, @On3Sports has learned
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 26, 2025
The 6’7 350 OL started all 12 games for Auburn this season
Chaplin was the No. 2 OT in last year’s On3 Portal Rankings https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/O1LcsFhN26
With Louisville targeting quarterbacks like DJ Lagway and Dylan Raiola, it will be essential to improve this front unit. Louisville can add an elite quarterback, but if it gets similar production from the offensive line as it did in 2025, not much will change. Getting a player like Chaplin will improve the entire offense, as he will enhance both the passing and running games. And Louisville fans are anxiously awaiting to see which running backs stay and which leave.
Getting a quarterback and improving the offensive line is a good pitch to help keep star running back Isaac Brown or even Keyjuan Brown. Elite programs will target Chaplin, but if Louisville wants an elite offense as it did in 2023, it must get this 6-foot-7, 350-pound offensive lineman.
Chaplin is a former 3-star commit who committed to Virginia Tech and spent three seasons with the Hokies. The elite transfer was the No. 14 overall transfer in the portal in 2024 after committing just 12 penalties in his three seasons with VT. Now, he is in the portal once again after his lone season with Auburn, where he committed 12 penalties just last year.
While he committed a career-high in penalties, his potential is through the roof after playing a career-high 821 snaps at left tackle for the Tigers. With Chaplin coming off a year remembered by penalties, it should be an opportunity for Louisville to go and make a push for this once All-ACC offensive linemen.
For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.