Louisville football got crushing news this week when Rivals expert Steve Wiltfong predicted one of the Cardinals' top prospects in the 2027 class, and the city of Louisville and the Cardinals' nation are heartbroken. Wiltfong predicted 4-star wide receiver Ja’Hyde Brown to commit to Indiana over Louisville, crushing the Cardinals' fans' dreams of landing this elite Louisville native recruit.
Brown is a dominant 4-star wide receiver who ranks as high as No. 356 in the country, No. 7 in the state, and is a top 50 wide receiver across all recruiting platforms. He is coming off a historic season with Christian Academy of Louisville, as he broke the school's record with 1,556 receiving yards. He also logged 98 catches and 24 touchdowns.
Louisville recently made Brown’s top 10, but Wiltfong logged a prediction that the Louisville native will commit to Indiana and is 60 percent confident. So, with Louisville likely to strike out on this coveted star, the fans must turn their attention to one specific player as their new No. 1 target, and that is Allen Evans.
Louisville football's new No. 1 target is clear after Ja’Hyde Brown update
Evans is also a Louisville native, as he plays football for Trinity High School. This is going to be a recruiting battle for the Cardinals, as they will go head-to-head with some college football powerhouses for Evans' commitment. The 4-star cornerback has made massive strides this season, earning over 17 offers from elite programs like Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, Tennessee, and others.
The Louisville native is now ranked as high as No. 38 in the nation and the sixth-best cornerback in the 2027 class. He is the No. 1 player out of Kentucky, making him not only the top target for Jeff Brohm and Vince Marrow but also the Kentucky Wildcats. It has been reported that Evans's dream school is Alabama, putting Louisville in a heated battle with some of the nation's top programs.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound visited Louisville back in Week 1 for a gameday visit, but has since visited Penn State, Vanderbilt, and Alabama. He has also taken a couple of visits to Kentucky before this 2025 season. On3 Sports gives Louisville the best chance to land his commitment at 25.2 percent, with Kentucky and Alabama right behind.
Evans would be a massive splash for Louisville and would be the elite 4-star recruit the Cardinals have been trying to land for quite some time. A player with his skill and ranking would help Louisville dominate this elite class of 2027 from the state of Kentucky, so Brohm and Marrow must do all that they can to land Evans over Bama and other SEC giants.
For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.