Louisville football’s program is trending in the right direction since Jeff Brohm took over in 2023, and one way that has been made clear is recruiting. The Cardinals' recruiting classes continue to get better and better the longer Brohm stays with Louisville, and the 2027 class is trending toward being one of the best in modern Cardinals history.
The 2027 recruiting class has already landed 4 4-stars, more than in the previous two years, and is trending toward multiple 4-stars as decisions loom. Louisville recently learned they are trending with 4-star Maleek Lee, 4-star Jordan Haskins, 4-star Cam Wade, and now the most recent is 4-star wide receiver Jabari Watkins.
Louisville football gets massive recruiting update from 4-star Jabari Watkins
The Georgia native is a 4-star wide receiver who received 29 offers after his junior year. Watkins earned offers from Power Four programs like South Carolina, Missouri, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Illinois, Duke, and many others, but recently the elite wide receiver cut his list to 10 schools, and the Cardinals are set to be in a massive ACC and SEC recruiting battle.
Watkins updated his recruiting list to his final 10 schools, which include Pitt, Kentucky, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Arkansas, Wake Forest, and Louisville.
Overly blessed!! pic.twitter.com/1TmUiniWLZ
— Jabari Watkins (@jabariwatkins18) February 17, 2026
However, the good news doesn’t just stop there. The Cardinals also learned they are the clear frontrunners, as Watkins told Rivals the Cardinals are “on top” as of today.
“Louisville is on top right now,” Watkins stated, according to Rivals “They stay on top of me every day. They talk to me like I am one of their guys already. The coaches tell me the real stuff, and not just what I want to hear. I will be taking an official visit to Louisville on May 29.”
So, not only did Louisville make another 4-star wide receiver updated recruiting list this week, but they are being told they are the clear frontrunner and are earning a visit on May 29. Watkins also announced that Florida State is sitting right behind Louisville in second place, as they are also getting a visit on June 12.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound wide receiver is ranked as high as a 4-star recruit out of Thomas County Central High School, and ranks as high as No. 204 overall, No. 28 among wide receivers, and No. 24 from Georgia natives. The 4-star had an impressive junior season as he logged 55 catches for 847 yards and 11 touchdowns, including two games with 100 receiving yards or more.
Related: 3 elite football targets who could commit to Louisville after huge recruiting surge
For all the latest news and updates on Louisville football's 2025 season and recruiting, stay tuned.