Former Louisville football starting tight end finds a home with an ACC foe

Former Louisville football tight end Nate Kurisky found his new home just a few days after the Transfer Portal officially opened. The Cardinals' tight end announced he would enter the portal back on December 24 after spending his first three seasons wearing red and black. The former Cardinal was one of Louisville’s top tight ends over the past few seasons, and now he will most likely have that opportunity again, serving as TE1 with the Duke Blue Devils.

With Jaleel Skinner returning and Julius Miles coming to the program, Kurisky thought it was time to move on from the program, despite coming off a career season. Kurisky is one of 22 Cardinals to enter the portal so far and is the first to commit, and it turns out he is staying in the ACC and going to the conference’s champions.

Last ride. AGTG pic.twitter.com/VyIfIV5CYr
— Nate Kurisky (@NateKurisky) January 5, 2026

Former Louisville football TE finds a home with an ACC foe

Kurisky is coming off his best collegiate season after earning a career high of 20 catches and 157 receiving yards. The former Cardinal also earned two receiving touchdowns for the second time in his career, as he had in his true freshman season, when he earned 18 catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He was a key tight end for Jeff Brohm’s offense every season, as he earned a combined 50 catches for 410 yards and seven touchdowns, including his career high of three touchdowns in 2024.

Now, he will take his talents to Durham, N.C., and become an immediate offensive threat for Manny Diaz and Darian Mensah. The Blue Devils are coming off a 9-5 season, where they won the ACC Championship game after beating Virginia in double-OT.

The Cards were crushed to see Kurisky go as they lost six of their top seven receivers from the 2025 season, and two of their top three tight ends, including the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Duke commit. Louisville will turn to Jaleel Skinner, who earned the third most catches on the team with 21 receptions, and the fourth most receiving yards with 204, while adding two touchdowns. They are also bringing in elite 4-star recruit Julius Miles, who ranks as high as No. 180 recruit in the nation and the No. 10 tight end in the 2026 class.

For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.